There’s new controversy surrounding the loitering restrictions at a D.C. housing complex.

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The policy prohibits residents of the Langston Lane Apartments from sitting outside of their units for a prolonged period of time.

Critics say this could be illegal, while supporters say it's a matter of safety.

At Langston Lane Section 8 Apartments today, the kids and others who live here again sat on the porch steps in front of their units because the police had not yet arrived to make them move.

But when off-duty D.C. officers hired by management arrived, adults who want to talk, kids who want to play have to do that outside the property gates. It's the new no-loitering policy, though they live here.

When Johnny Barnes headed the ACLU in D.C., they look the city to court over it's loitering policy and won. He questions this complex's policy as well.

"But even with this as a private facility, the chief ought to look at her officers enforcing what may be an illegal act by this management company," Barnes says.

Mable Carter the resource director at Langston Lane says the policy is necessary because there's drug dealing, people drinking liquor.

The question comes down to how to balance law enforcement and tenants rights.