Four people cited for violating sit-lie ordinance plead not guilty in court
Four people who were cited for violating the “sit-lie” ordinance appeared in court Tuesday afternoon.
Trygve Bundagard, Mark Chamberlin, Alan Pits and Cayla Tierce were cited on April 9 for “sitting in a commercial district.”
These four individuals are the first and only people to be cited since the “sit-lie” ordinance went into effect.
“We wanted to be cited to kind of raise awareness of this ordinance the city.” Alan Pitts said.
Pitts is one of the four people cited for “sitting in a commercial district.” He’s not homeless but says he purposely violated the act to help people who are.
“There’s an issue in this town and people need help that are homeless and the city doesn’t want to do anything about it they just want to make laws,” Pitts said.
On April 9, the city began enforcing the Pedestrian Access Act, also referred to as the “sit-lie” ordinance.
“There were four people who were arrested a month ago in the park when we had a mass sit-in and it was to protest this new ordinance,” said Eric Verlo, activist.
That same group protested outside the court house Tuesday afternoon.
“A lot of the homeless on the street are veterans and to deny them their right to lie down and rest in downtown is just a crime,” said Nazli McDonnell, activist.
The organization, Coalition for Compassion and Action hopes its campaign will not only create awareness but help end homelessness.
“Unfortunately while this works its way through the courts, homeless people on the streets will be ticketed,” Verlo said.
Pitts knows he could pay a big fine, but says it’s a chance he’ll take.
“We have a pre-trial date set up for June. I really don’t know what’s going to happen,” Pitts said.
Violators face a fine of up to $500 and a jail term of up to 90 days if police catch them more than once sitting, lying, kneeling or reclining on sidewalks, trails and other public areas.
Hours of enforcement are between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily, and from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
