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Hagerstown police present revised ordinance to prohibit lodging outdoors; chief stresses voluntary compliance and limits
Summary
The city's police chief presented a revised ordinance to prohibit lodging outdoors at the June 3 work session, saying enforcement language was narrowed to law enforcement only and emphasizing the measure is intended to secure voluntary compliance and be used rarely.
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The mayor and city council heard a presentation June 3 from Police Chief Pfeiffer on a revised ordinance to prohibit lodging outdoors that narrows enforcement authority to law enforcement and seeks voluntary compliance in rare cases.
The ordinance presentation matters because city staff said an enforcement gap currently exists for certain public spaces, such as sidewalks and some park hours, where existing laws and constitutional protections can limit removal of individuals. Chief Pfeiffer said the revision removes a provision that had allowed "law enforcement and other city employees" to enforce the rule; enforcement will be…
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