N.J. Town Outlaws Sleeping In Public

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Police Chief: Ordinance Designed To Deal With Homeless

ROSELLE PARK, N.J. (1010 WINS) — Getting some shuteye in one New Jersey town could land you in hot water, depending on where you lay your head, 1010 WINS’ Steve Sandberg reports.

In Roselle Park, it is against the law and you could be fined or arrested for sleeping in public.

One resident couldn’t help but laugh when she heard the news.

“Isn’t that a little crazy? I mean, if you fall asleep, like if I were to sit down on this bench and wait for a bus and I fell asleep, that’s against the law?” she said. “Don’t you think that’s a little crazy?”

Even though that’s the letter of the law, Police Chief Paul Morrison said drowsy drivers and napping babies need not worry.

“This ordinance was amended to help assist the police in addressing the increasing problem of homeless people sleeping on benches,” Morrison said.

Business owners said they’re a nuisance and eyesore, but one resident disagreed with the adopted solution.

“It would be easier if they would help them out,” he said.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/16/nj-town-outlaws-sleeping-in-public/

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“Isn’t that a little crazy? I mean, if you fall asleep, like if I were to sit down on this bench and wait for a bus and I fell asleep, that’s against the law?” she said.

Relax, dumbass. That won't get you arrested.

“It would be easier if they would help them out,” he said.

They are being helped out. They are being encouraged to go nap in Elizabeth or Linden or Union instead. Heck, Union has a new-ish train station right next to a University (can you say, clean public bathrooms?).

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

San Francisco has been trying to enact a similar ordinance: No sitting, or lying on the sidewalk during daylight hours. It's got the panhanders and street musicians all upset.

[The_Dude 1,142]

La Jolla, CA a couple of years ago came up with an inventive method to deal with their homeless problem. They first tried to put an arm rest in the middle of the benches so the homeless couldn't stretch out and sleep on them. But of course, they persisted. So, a group was formed of volunteers, mostly seniors, to sit on benches, all day long so that the homeless couldn't sleep or camp out on the benches.

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... a group was formed of volunteers, mostly seniors, to sit on benches, all day long so that the homeless couldn't sleep or camp out on the benches.

That is both funny and really sad.