Sit/Lie Law Trivia

In researching the legality of sit-lie laws, I came across a study released in June called “Homes Not Handcuffs: The Criminalization of Homelessness in U.S. Cities.” It was published by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and the National Coalition for the Homeless. (BIG Pdf here: Download Homes Not Handcuffs Report.)

The report surveyed laws in 235 cities (including San Francisco) and made some interesting findings:

• 30 percent prohibit sitting or lying in certain public places.
• 47 percent prohibit loitering in certain public places and 19 percent prohibit it citywide.
• 47 percent prohibit begging in certain public places; 49 percent prohibit aggressive panhandling; and 23 percent have citywide prohibitions on begging.

At almost 200 pages, the report provides an exhaustive discussion of the legal landscape in 90 cities. Some have definitely used creative methods:

• In Billings, Mont., it’s illegal to “aggressively solicit” and/or lie about being “from out of town, a veteran, disabled or homeless” while asking for money.
• In Boerne, Texas, all panhandlers have to buy a license to solicit (like other solicitors and vendors) at a cost of $115. Durham, N.C., charges $20 for a panhandling permit.
• Las Vegas, briefly had a law that prohibited sleeping “within 500 feet of a deposit of urine or feces.” 

Comments

[Be_devine]

If SF had a law like the one in Vegas, they'd have to condemn every house in the City.

[DJTennessee]

BIG Pdf here

The first 35 pages are taken up by the name "National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and the National Coalition for the Homeless".

[generic]

I totally made a commitment to myself to delve further into policy this year.

But it's fair to summarily disregard any document that ranks San Francisco as the the "7th Meanest City In America", right? When Berkeley's at #10, we can dispense with the charade, yes?