Morris passes ban on public camping, sleeping in cars

The Morris City Council on Monday approved a ban on public camping and sleeping in cars within city limits, which gives police the ability to remove and fine anyone who does so.

Police Chief Alicia Steffes said the city has had a few issues over the past few years with people who are homeless and refuse help when offered. The first step, Steffes said, always will be to direct homeless people toward local organizations such as Grundy Area PADS and We Care of Grundy County.

“This gives us another tool to encourage people to move on and hopefully, like a tough love, to push them toward social services where they might find housing and appropriate services,” Steffes said.

She said the law says that no person may sleep or engage in public camping on a public sidewalk, street, alley, lane, public right of way, park bench or any other publicly owned property, nor on or under any bridge or viaduct at any time. Those who do may face a fine.

Those who are camping in public will be given a warning on the first offense.

“If they move on, there’s not an issue at all,” Steffes said. “It’s when they refuse, or if they’re back the next day, then there’s a fine.”

The first offense is $75 and if they get a second offense within two years, it goes up to $150. A third offense is $500 and the fifth is $750.

“There’s three or four specific people that come to mind of people we’ve really struggled with resources for,” Steffes said. “When they’ve refused social services or PADS, or We Care, they continue to be in places that disturb others, and give a threatening feel that makes the public uncomfortable. We just need a way to help them move along or push them toward social services where they can get the help they need.”

Steffes said this typically is a problem with people traveling through Morris, and there’s typically an element of mental illness involved rather than anyone who is committing crimes.