© 2024 KUNR
Illustration of rolling hills with occasional trees and a radio tower.
Serving Northern Nevada and the Eastern Sierra
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
KUNR’s spring fund drive is happening now, and your gift to the station will go twice as far with a matching pledge from the KUNR Advisory Board!

Now is the time to act –
click here to make a gift to KUNR today or increase your sustaining membership and have it matched.

City Of Reno Considering Controversial Vagrancy Rules

ThisisReno.com

The City of Reno is considering controversial vagrancy ordinances that prohibit specific behaviors. Critic argue that the new rules would target the homeless. Our News Director Michelle Billman spoke to our contributor Bob Conrad of ThisisReno to learn more.

The City of Reno’s proposed vagrancy ordinances target specific behaviors, and in particular, the homeless, according to critics of the rules aimed at cleaning up downtown.

A number of rules, put under an umbrella called vagrancy ordinances, would make it illegal to:

1.      Use a cell phone in a cross walk

2.      Climb, stand, sit, lay or sleep on “any public structure not designated … for such purpose”

3.      Spit on any public property in the city

4.      Sit or lie down on the ReTRAC Plaza

5.      Sleep on public or private property without permission

According to city documents, a person convicted of violating sections of these codes,

“shall be punished in lieu of all or part of any fine of imprisonment that may be imposed for the commission of the misdemeanor, a penalty of a minimum of eight hours to a maximum of 200 hours of community service. The community service shall be performed within (downtown Reno).”

Community service — cleaning up trash downtown — is the punishment, if convicted.

Read more of this story here

Michelle Billman is a former news director at KUNR Public Radio.
Bob Conrad, PhD, APR is a media professional with more than 20 years of experience in journalism, public relations, marketing and publishing. He’s the co-founder of ThisisReno.com, a locally owned and operated online news website.
Related Content