SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif- After months of controversy surrounding whether or not homeless people can sleep in their cars, a San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge made the call. Ordering the city to stop issuing tickets to people sleeping in their vehicles.
"The cops would come knocking at your door and all your windows at odd times at night," says John Veloria, a homeless veteran. That knocking will end for now, San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Charles Crandall ruled the law against sleeping in cars does not apply to public streets.
Without enforcement people like Kerry Thatcher, who is 8 months pregnant, can be rest assure. "We've actually slept at bus stops, we've slept in bushes, tents. If we didn't have this I don't know what we would be doing," says Kerry Thatcher, talking about their RV.
When the city was enforcing Kerry and her fiance John tried other options to stay away from fines, one was sleeping in state parks. "Some places only let you stay for 15 days and then you have to leave," says Veloria.
It becomes a never ending cycle of no where to call home. John and Kerry say they are hoping to save up enough money to get an apartment of their own.
Now this ruling may not last forever. "The City does not believe it should be legally compelled to allow unsafe and unsanitary residential occupancies anywhere in the City, including on the public streets," says City Attorney Christine Dietrick.
Enforcement will be suspended until a full court hearing can be held on the case.
