PHARR - Officer Mike Perez is patroling areas around Pharr that are now considered gang-free zones.

It's all part of a new ordinance and officers are working hard to make sure everyone, including gang members, know about the new rules.

"Right now most of them don't know about the gang free zone. We have to educate them once we come across them, and once they are notified that's when they start staying away from these areas," said Officer Perez, Pharr Police Gang Officer.

One-thousand feet in every direction around schools and 300 feet around malls and theaters, are all part of the new zone. Almost all community areas have been mapped out as gang-free zones. But how does this help?

"It's going to enhance our, prosecution of these individuals that choose to not abide by the law, and mess with the quality of life that we have here in our community," said Chief Ruben Villescas, Pharr Police Department.

So if you commit a gang related crime in a gang-free zone, the penatly for that crime is going to increase big-time!

News Center 23 Reporter Erin Murray explains.