How does one trespass ... on a public street? Have my civil rights be violated by the passage of this law. Also, I was under the impression that public housing is funded by taxpayer money? Are taxpayer dollars being used to pay for the police to become private security in what amounts to a government funded "gated-community"?
http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_top_061509_portsmouth_streets.82da93c1.html
http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_top_061509_portsmouth_streets.82da93c1.html
Debate rages over new Portsmouth trespassing law
PORTSMOUTH -- A law closing two Portsmouth streets to outsiders is dividing those who live there.
Some applaud the stricter trespassing code, but others say it's turned their neighborhood into a prison.
The Portsmouth City Council last week voted to close Lexington and Dale drives to anyone who isn't a resident or guest. Those streets wind through the Lincoln Park and Dale Homes public housing areas.
The new law means the streets are now owned by the Portsmouth Housing Authority and are considered private -- a similar designation given to streets in gated communities.
The city installed new "no trespassing" signs on Wednesday.
The change gives police the power to issue trespassing citations to people standing on the street "who do not belong there," said Delores Adams, Portsmouth Director of Housing Management.
She said the code change will help deter drug dealers and criminals.
Portsmouth Police say they’ve already issued a handful of trespassing citations using the new law that took effect June 9.