A Colorado City Makes It Illegal To Sit Or Lie On Sidewalks

Fact checked

Criminalizing homelessness?

A Colorado city council has approved an ordinance that prohibits anyone from sitting or lying down on downtown sidewalks, curbs and other public areas.

Anyone who violates the ordinance, which goes into effect this summer in Durango City, will face fines of up $200

Critics claim the move represents an attack on the homeless.

RT reports: The move is seen by some as an effort to try and clean up the downtown area and make it safer for residents. Business owners and councilors in particular were in favor of the motion.

“People can stand with a sign on Main Avenue all day long and they are absolutely within their First Amendment rights,” Councillor Dick White said. “I think this is achieving what we are trying to achieve,” he added.

Critics argued that it was an attack on homeless people and beggars and that it wouldn’t solve the city’s homeless problem.

“I think this is a Band-Aid. I think this ordinance is going to merely cover a wound that is festering in our city,” one local resident reportedly said. Many social media users also slammed the new law.

However, the ordinance does not apply to people in the midst of a medical emergency, people with disabilities, parade and festival-goers, children in strollers and performers at special events.

7 Comments

  1. Total nonsense. Modern Liberal politics will go to all extremes to make every aspect of life, living, and activity regulated and punishable. What’s next? A felony for boys who fart or belch? 20-25 for prissy young girls? ID checks for young people who are with one another? Probable cause for people who lean on railing or buildings? Security checkpoints at parks?

  2. Very soon,very very soon, those that think this law is fine, those that made it so and others that think they will never end up like those they wish to punish, will be walking in their shoes and footsteps. Within the next 2 years 35% of the entire population will be homeless, jobless, and dependent on the govt. Hope you remember this law when its your turn.

  3. OK so you fine me $200. Funny, if I had the $200 I could have a nice meal and have a hotel room to sleep in. So I’m a vagrant and can’t pay your $200 fine. What now, jail? Are we back to debtors prison? Just really a stupid non solution to the problem of the homeless. Sometimes I feel like governments are composed of idiots who can not see the eventual result of their excuse for passing innain laws. Funny “we the people” actually pay these government drones to make these laws.

  4. I am a Coloradoan by birth and live in one of the nearby states, and i wish too state that if we dont stop this s h i t!!! It will become policy nationwide!!! W T F is wrong with a society when it stops caring for its less than fortunate!!!I I wish for all who read this too remember one thing::: THIS COULD BE YOU, or one of your loved ones who lost their homes during the home-crisis bubble which occurred during the 2008 period!! So on that note i would like each one of +you too get h old of the durango city council or police depts too protest this!!!! THIS is a crime against humanity!!!! Pure and simple!!! This is illegal in most countries around the world ,and is Immoral period!!! If you dont stop it NOW tthen later on it WILL BE YOU! May our God bless you all who try too help those less fortunate. He watches everything we do . Please dont disappoint him. This IS ILLEGAL!! WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TOO DO!!!

  5. nobody should be lying or sitting on the footpath anyhow.. I mean seriously…. dirty dirty dirty…yukkkk

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