Wonder what will they do if the person is a former sex offender?2-10-2011 California:
SAN DIEGO -- The city of San Diego has reached an agreement that will let police ticket and arrest homeless people who sleep on the street for the first time in about five years, city officials said Wednesday.
Under terms of a settlement of a lawsuit filed by homeless advocates, San Diego police officers can issue citations for illegal lodging and even take someone into custody. But there has to be a bed available in a shelter.
"If that person refuses bed space, they could get a citiation," said Assistant Police Chief Boyd Law. "If they continue to refuse, they could be arrested."
Boyd said on most nights there are on average five available shelter beds in the downtown area.
Previously, police were not allowed to cite the homeless between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.
The terms of the settlement are being incorporated into training guides for police officers, who will first make any homeless person they encounter aware of available services and try to provide help.
"Our streets are atrocious,'' City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said. "It will help people in San Diego get a bed and help themselves with treatment."
The problem of illegal lodging is critical downtown, where transients line the sidewalks in some areas at night -- a concern of both safety and neglect visible to residents and visitors to Petco Park, the Gaslamp Quarter and downtown hotels.
"What we're announcing today is vitally important to downtown San Diego,'' said Kevin Faulconer, the city councilman who represents the area. "This step will make downtown a nicer place for residents, businesses and tourists.''
"The only way for this to be effective is if there were thousands of beds available to house people downtown," said Amy Gonyeau with Alpha Project, a homeless advocacy group.
City officials believe the majority of the homeless will turn down the offer of shelter space, but will move on to avoid a ticket, which can be fine of up to $1,000. But one homeless person told Fox 5 that the threat of a fine wouldn't change his mind about shelter beds.
"I'll take all those tickets and get warm with them," said Billy Miles. He and his wife live on the streets of the East Village. Given a choice to live outside on a sidewalk or in a shelter, Miles said he would choose a sidewalk.
"I'm almost 60 years old, and it don't take much for me to get sick," he said. "All those people don't shower, don't shave. It's a disease factory."
The settlement approved by U.S. Magistrate Judge William McCurine was reached after numerous meetings between plaintiff lawyers Timothy Cohelan and Robert Scott Dreher, the City Attorney's Office and Faulconer. ..Source.. by Juliette Vara
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