SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, Calif. — A proposed change to San Joaquin County's camping ordinance would ban people from camping on public property and also ban them from sleeping in their cars for more than an hour.
“After the recent Supreme Court decision, our Board (of Supervisors) pledged to work with our local law enforcement to clean up and reclaim public spaces in San Joaquin County. This ordinance is one piece of that puzzle to allow our families to once again safely use parks and public facilities,” said Board Chairman Miguel Villapudua.
The proposal has support from the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office.
Officials say there would be some discretion involved for law enforcement, noting deputies would be able to allow people in cars to rest for safety purposes.
“We are providing the services that people need at local shelters and through the behavioral health department. This revised no camping ordinance is an essential tool for law enforcement and our non-profit partners to encourage the unsheltered and incentivize using those resources, getting help to live healthy and productive lives,” Villapudua said in a statement.
The county's camping ordinance currently allows for camping on public property between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. but it was described as vague and limited.
According to a news release from San Joaquin County, the goal of the proposal is to deter illegal camping on public property.
However, homeless advocate Jessica Velez said she doesn't think the proposal will work.
"If you start going after people, arresting them and trying to put them into programs, you have to have that infrastructure in place to be able to handle all the people. And right now we don’t have that," Velez said.
The ordinance will return to the board for consideration of final adoption on Sept. 24. It would go into effect 30 days later, if adopted.
