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Home > Campaigns > Safe Streets Act > Media Reports > B.C. government cracks down on street people
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B.C. government cracks down on street people
WebPosted Oct 7 2004 08:05 PM PDT |  | |
VICTORIA - The B.C. government has introduced its
controversial legislation that would ban squeegee kids and aggressive
panhandlers from city streets.
Attorney General Geoff Plant
introduced the Safe Streets Act in the legislature on Thursday afternoon.
The new
law will prohibit aggressive panhandling – soliciting in a way that would cause
a person to fear for their safety or security.
Panhandlers won't be allowed to block the sidewalk, to follow pedestrians
down the street or to use abusive language.
They'll
be prohibited from panhandling within five metres of a pay phone, public toilet,
transit stop or automated bank machine.
The bill also takes
clear aim at squeegee kids. No one will be allowed to solicit motorists stopped
at an intersection or in a parking lot.
Plant
says the bill will not stop people from asking for spare change.
But he
says people should have the right to go about their daily business without
facing aggressive panhandlers.
Plant says this is part of a broader strategy that includes measures to
house the homeless and address the problems of mental illnessand
addiction.
Liberal MLA Lorne Mayencourt, who
initiated the
new legislation as a
private member's bill
| "Certainly we've heard overwhelmingly from
mayors and cities and community groups across the province that they want this
additional tool, and I think this legislation will do
that."
The legislation began as a private member's bill put forward
by Liberal backbencher Lorne Mayencourt, who represents Vancouver-Burrard –
which includes Vancouver's downtown core and the West End.
The NDP is dismissing the new law as unenforceable – and
even silly. MLA Jenny Kwan points to a section that says it will be illegal to
walk on a roadway if that roadway has a sidewalk.
She's also critical of the fact the bill contains no
penalties.
NDP leader Carole James accuses Plant of trying to score
political points with the bill, calling it a cynical pre-election move.
Plant says he expects violators will be
ticketed, but the government still has to decide how stiff the penalties will
be.
The attorney general has also introduced
amendments to the Trespass Act. They'll prohibit someone from remaining on
private property after they've been asked to
leave.
It will also allow property owners to ban
skateboarding on their premises.
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