Ban on Sleeping in Cars Extended in Los Angeles

"Sleeping overnight in cars, vans and RVs will be prohibited again in many parts of Los Angeles, after the City Council voted Tuesday to reinstate rules that limit where people can live in their vehicles," reports Emily Alpert Reyes.

"The decision extends the L.A. regulations, which had expired at the beginning of July, until January. Under the rules [pdf], people cannot spend the night in their cars on residential streets, or live in their vehicles at any time within a block of a park, school, preschool or day care facility."

The City Council hearing to approve the extension of the rule was heated: activists chanted "shame on you" after the vote and at least one person had to be removed from the council chambers in handcuffs. Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson spoke to reporters after saying it was "totally unacceptable" to allow people to live in cars in neighborhoods.

"More than 9,500 people live in cars, vans or RVs throughout the city of Los Angeles, according to the last annual count [pdf]," according to Reyes, and the city only has the operating capacity of safe parking sites around the city currently totals fewer than 200 parking spaces. That number is expected to rise above 300 in the fall.

The article includes more of the politics and history of the decision, which has encountered controversy every time the city has revisited the rules.