The new ordinance by the city commissioner in Oklahoma will ticket or fine homeless people.
The new ordinance passed by the city commissioners in Oklahoma will take effect on January 17 next year. (Photo: KOKH)
A Passed Ordinance By City Commissioners
A group of city commissioners called the Shawnee Board of City Commissioners in Oklahoma passed an ordinance to ticket and fine homeless individuals within the city. The ordinance passed by the said city commissioners, known as “Sit/Lie,” aims to create a safer environment for residents and visitors in downtown Shawnee.
Critics worry that this ordinance by the city commissioners may criminalize homelessness, but the city assures that individuals involved in this ordinance by the city commissioners will only be fined after being notified by law enforcement.
The ordinance by the city commissioners specifies that fines will be issued to those caught sleeping, sitting, or lying down in a way that obstructs others, such as on a sidewalk.
According to a published article by The Messenger, Mayor Ed Bold suggested that individuals unable to pay the fine of the recent ordinance by the city commissioners could potentially be required to perform community service instead.
6-1 Vote
In a published article by Fox 23, the Shawnee Board of City Commissioners in Oklahoma has passed an ordinance in a 6-1 vote that would ticket and fine those experiencing homelessness.
The citation comes with a $10 fine, but if someone can’t pay, a judge could order public service instead. It will take effect on January 17, 2023, and does not apply to those sitting or lying down due to a medical emergency, participating in events, or waiting in a line.
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