re: Keep Tiger Town Beautiful - Cleanup of O'Neal Lane Homeless Encampment

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What am I looking at here?

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The sheriff has zero interest in picking them up because he wont arrest non violent offenders anymore. That came straight out of his mouth

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In 2020, Louisiana repealed its state-level vagrancy law. However, local ordinances, such as those in Baton Rouge, may still address related issues. Specifically, Baton Rouge has ordinances addressing public nuisance, disorderly conduct, and camping in undesignated areas, which can be relevant to individuals who might be considered vagrants under older laws.

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Section 1. Title 13 (Criminal Law)of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge is hereby amended as follows:
“Section 13:107 – Camping in a Public Area Prohibited.

(a) As used in this section, the term:

(1) Camp means the use of a public area for living accommodation purposes for an extended period of time including:
(a) storing personal belongings;
(b) making a camp fire;
(c) using a tent or shelter or other structure for a living accommodation;
(d) carrying on cooking activities; or
(e) digging or earth breaking activities.

(2) Extended period of time means a period exceeding twelve (12) hours.

(3) Public area means any and all streets, the area under a highway overpass, sidewalks, boulevards, alleys or other public ways and any and all public parks, squares, spaces, grounds and buildings.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to camp in a public area that is not designated as a camping area by the city-parish.

(c) Unless a police officer determines that there is an imminent health or safety threat, a police officer must, before citing a person for a violation of this section, make a reasonable effort to:

(1) advise the person of a lawful alternative place to camp;
(2) advise the person, to the best of the police officer's knowledge, of available shelter or housing; and
(3) contact, if reasonable and appropriate, a city designee who has the authority to offer to transport the person or provide the person with services.

(d) This section does not apply to a person who is:

(1) permitted to camp or cook in a city-parish park or is otherwise in compliance with park regulations;
(2) in the right-of-way because of a medical emergency;
(3) operating or patronizing a commercial establishment that conducts business on the sidewalk in compliance with city-parish regulations;
(4) participating in or viewing a parade, festival, performance, rally, demonstration, or similar event;
(5) sitting on a chair or bench that is supplied by a public agency or by the abutting private property owner;
(6) sitting within a bus stop zone while waiting for public or private transportation; or
(7) waiting in a line for goods, services, or a public event.

(e) Whoever commits the crime of camping in a public area shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) or imprisoned for not more than fifteen (15) days, or both.

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That is actually a good idea...create a position where all they do is go from interstate overpass to interstate overpass within the parish and there one job is to keep people out from under there.

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