Daytona Beach, FL - Daytona Beach leaders sign off on a new ordinance giving police and city officials more trespassing power, but opponents fear it will be used to kick homeless people off city property.
The second reading passed during last night's city commission meeting after the first went through during the August 1st meeting.
It allows the city manager and officers to issue trespass warnings for up to two years to anyone who violates any city ordinance, rule or regulation. Anyone who violates a state law while on city property could also be subject to trespass warnings, but it would only apply to the city property the violator is on at the time.
Sidewalks, streets and other public right-of-way property won't be affected by the ordinance, which is modeled off one approved recently by the city of St. Petersburg and upheld in federal court.
Prior to city commissioners approving it, various people used public comment time to urge them not to, claiming it's intended to target homeless people.
City officials say the new ordinance is not meant to target the homeless or the city's growing panhandling problem specifically.
