Court overturns Los Angeles ban on living in cars

[bananas]

Source: Associated Press

A federal appeals court on Thursday struck down a 31-year-old Los Angeles law that bars people from living in parked vehicles, saying the vaguely written statute discriminates against the homeless and poor.

The ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals involved a 1983 law that prohibits the use of a vehicle "as living quarters either overnight, day-by-day, or otherwise."

The court said the law was unconstitutional because its ambiguous wording does not make clear what conduct would constitute a violation and "criminalizes innocent behavior."

The decision came in a case brought on behalf of four people who were cited and arrested in the Venice area by Los Angeles police officers who concluded the numerous belongings in their RVs and cars meant they were violating the law.

Read more: http://smirkingchimp.com/news/56512/court-overturns-los-angeles-ban-on-living-in-cars

[Live and Learn]

1. I loved that ruling and hope it stands.

How can you bar people from being homeless? The attempts (and virtual successes) to do so are astounding to me.

[zonkers]

17. A few unsolicited thoughts on homelessness. I always think "this is somebody's child",

when I see a homeless person. Each of them was once held, and nurtured and valued. How did they get to this spot? Economic failure. Bad breaks? Alcohol? Mental illness? Choice? Where I live --- it's ground zero for "homeless living in cars." My heart breaks everyday watching folks struggle to survive. (BTW, sometimes I often I struggle to survive but at least I have a roof.) The idea that people want to "wish" homeless away is absurd. The short of it is.... they don't want to be reminded of the frightening truth: that homeless person could easily be them with a few bad breaks". Therefore, out of sight, out of mind.

Interestingly, I find that "living in cars" seems to occur adjacent to "good" neighborhoods. It is because they are safer. Try living in your car in the ghetto, your will get seriously hassled by locals. Many homeless are alone and afraid. When I see seniors living in a car or on the street, waiting for a SS check or whatever check to come, I ache. I also admire their ingenuity and tenacity. I know one guy who is always shaved and impeccably dressed. Being homeless is not an easy life. It is also a full time job. Also, it is a dirty secret that you see more homeless men than women. Women just don't survive on the street. At the same time, where I live there, the leniency toward homeless facilitates a nasty culture of anti-social burnouts and substance abusers that seem to be choose being homeless as a first or second option in life. It is not an easy fix. Everyone needs a roof and needs to feel valued.

[Live and Learn]

22. Sorry I missed your reply earlier since I agree wholeheartedly. nt

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, bananas.

[Live and Learn]

3. BTW, the right wing radio talk shows (all we have anymore)

were in an uproar over this ruling. What the heck do they think people will do when homeless. simply cease to exist?

[C Moon]

4. They got rid of KTLK, and left us with "All Right Wing Radio, All the Time."

I loved KTLK and miss it so much.
I know I can listen online, but it was nice to have it when I got in my car.

[Live and Learn]

5. Yep, now we have a choice between some Libertarians posing as independents.

bat-shit crazy RWingers or music. I usually opt towards music but check in once in a while just to see what the "independent" are thinking. If you see someone yelling on the still free parts of the 'freeways' out here after 5 pm, it is probably me yelling at 'Ken and John'.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. I know. Hearing Malloy and Randy on the actual RADIO was a trip.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. Don't you know that part of being a Right Winger is to be dead in the center?

You are supposed to feel NOTHING towards others. Every time ANYTHING comes up that could possibly make someone CARE about someone other than themselves these guys go into full out panic mode to remind everyone that sympathy is a Liberal WEAKNESS and it's what's wrong with America.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

6. The "jail the homeless" crap is a legacy of the Reagan Years long overdue for repeal....

There are people who honestly believe being poor is a CHOICE. They resent "paying for those people" and would love to see the cops raid Skid Row and crack some skulls.

[Live and Learn]

9. The sad part is that so may of the ones that believe that way

are only one disaster short of being homeless themselves and suffering from the policies they once advocated for.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

12. No, the sad part is many believe their faith is what gives them their riches....

They also believe poverty is God's punishment for the wicked.

There's a neighbor moving out that sees a homeless person and calls them ALL "heroin junkies" and doesn't want to hear otherwise.

[DesertDiamond]

10. Making homelessness a crime started during the Reagan years.

[former9thward]

21. Vagrancy and loitering laws are as old as the hills.

[Dustlawyer]

11. Yet they would rather pay more to lock them up than help them find housing.

That is the real problem, these people are taught by RW media to HATE, HATE, HATE!!! They are intentionally made to be so angry that they will not listen to reason. I blame the plutocracy that set this up way more than the ignorant bastards that fall for it.

[msanthrope]

13. Good. nt

[malthaussen]

14. Good news, bad news.

Good in that those living in their cars won't fear prosecution. Bad in that it acknowledges living in cars is here to stay.

-- Mal

[fasttense]

15. The judges saw through the ruse that rich and poor are both outlawed from living in their cars.

"In its majestic equality, the law forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal loaves of bread."

Le Lys Rouge [The Red Lily] (1894), ch. 7

[ripcord]

16. Don't get too exicted

L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer has already decided not to appeal the ruling but it already drafting a new law to remove any ambiguity. This all started in Venice Beach where people were living in RVs to be close to the beach, the big problem is that they were draining their black water tanks into the street. There are all kinds of empty lots around L.A. why can't some of them be converted into organized camp grounds with the proper facilities and security so these people can sleep safely?

[warrant46]

19. Ah=== Draining the Black Water Tanks in the streets

Kind of like Londoners in 1690 throwing the contents of the "Thunder Mugs" into the streets

[Sunlei]

18. worse than homeless is when they arrest people for whatever & tow away their car & pet to the pound.

Any kids go to foster care. Then when they finally get out of jail, or even get released from the police station. They can't afford the impound fees for their car, possessions are gone from the car. The pet they can't afford the pound fees or many times the pet is put to sleep if they have been jailed for even a short time. A nightmare to get their kids back.

It's a living hell to be homeless in America. They have no place to go. Many places made it a crime to sit on the sidewalks. State parks will not allow 'camping' for longer than a couple days.

America can place up refugee camps in other countries that house thousands of people. Medical care is provided by our military.

Why can't we use that system and those personal & supplies here for the homeless in America?

We have spent billions of taxpayer money for those shelters and supplies for the wars, lets use those items here in America. Lets use all the closed military bases for housing?

[warrant46]

20. supplies for the wars to promote Democracy

Especially Democracy in Iraq and Egypt and other shit holes

The good old USA has a new state IRAQ = 51st State

3 TRILLION $$$ AND COUNTING

Meanwhile the poor live in cars and eat in Soup Kitchens in the good old "Cradle of Democracy"