Austin Police Chief Brian Manley is clarifying what’s what for cops and the new homeless ordinances.
Chief Manley explained when it comes to obstruction, the department is instructing officers it’s about endangering or blocking others. “Endangering will constitute things like, if someone has to step off of a sidewalk to get around an individual, if you have step over someone or their belongings, if it prevents ingress or egress from businesses on to the sidewalks.”
Looking at Blocking Manley said they will be looking at if someone in a wheelchair or someone with a baby stroller cannot reasonably navigate a sidewalk in a straight line, if not, they’d define that sidewalk as blocked, and officers would be expected to take action. Austin City Council has suggested officers keep some form of a ruler on hand to help enforce those rules, believing 4 feet of space is needed to ensure a pathway, Chief Manley shot down that idea, “Austin Police Officer are not going carry tape measures and strings to measure distances. We are going to define blocking as impeding others ability to use what is meant to be a public thoroughfare.” Manley emphasized, if you have to step over people, or if someone in a wheelchair or with a stroller have zig-zag around people on the street, that’s blocking.
Manley added they are looking into camping that endangers others by blocking entrances or exits, or is too close to a roadway, “So we will be instructing our officers that if individuals are camping too close to a roadway, that that would be a violation of this ordinances, and we will expect them to take enforcement action.” He continued, they will also be looking into the camping under Austin’s bridges to see what other safety hazards are in need of fixing.
(Photo:Shutterstock/Kokoulina)
