Ban on Living and Sleeping in Vehicles Approved in San Diego

Earlier this month, the San Diego City Council voted in favor of an ordinance that prohibits sleeping overnight in vehicles or using vehicles for other activities such as bathing and preparing meals.

In February, the council repealed a similar ban that was in place for 36 years. It had not been enforced since last year because of legal issues about how it defined people living in cars.

Supporters of the ordinance say that they want to encourage homeless residents to park vehicles in designated lots where social services are also available or to access the city’s homeless shelters. But opponents argue that the ban is an attempt to criminalize homeless people in the city.