SAN DIEGO — A question and answer session was held in Mission Bay Park Wednesday to educate people who are living in their vehicles about new rules that are expected to take effect before the end of the year.
Attorneys involved in a federal class action lawsuit that challenged San Diego's Vehicle Habitation Ordinance (VHO) were there to answer questions. The lawsuit was filed in 2017 and a settlement was reached in late January.
"Mostly people want to know what the settlement is, if they're going to get relief from the harassment they've experienced," said Ann Menasche of Disability Rights California. She was one of the attorneys who took part in the lawsuit.
"The court required that we communicate with class members and do outreach, and that's what we're doing," she said.
More than twenty people showed up to get answers.
The settlement includes forgiveness for past parking tickets and fines. Menasche said her office will take down individuals' information to submit to the city to get the ball rolling.
Under the new rules, if there are no available parking spaces at any of the four safe parking lots in San Diego, people cannot be ticketed for staying in their vehicle or RV.
"There's going to be a new training bulletin for police to follow. They can't just target someone because they appear to be living in their vehicle, they have to have suspicion of another crime," said Menasche. "If it's suspicion of a parking violation, they have to give them an opportunity to relocate. They can't criminalize them for their status of living in their vehicle because they have no other options."
She said the city is also required to expand its Safe Parking Program.
The rules won't officially take effect until a judge signs off on this settlement. A hearing is scheduled for October.
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