One of the misleading flyers left on vehicles at Dog Beach; it claims it was put out by the Ocean Beach Neighborhood Watch but watch organizers say they didn’t print or distribute them.
On Thursday, May 16, fliers were found on cars in the Dog Beach parking lot in OB that give false warning about police enforcement of a new law that bars people from living in cars. The flyers were found on windshields 2 days after the City Council returned the ban on people living in vehicles on public streets.
The new ordinance bans people from parking a vehicle used for habitation within 500 feet of a school or home.
The flier states:
“You have received this notice because you are on a list of vehicles that has been reported as living in this lot continuously or frequently. Please park elsewhere. Enforcement will begin without further notice.”
In addition, the leaflet claims the entire Dog Beach parking lot is a no-parking area at all times for people who live in their vehicles because of the restriction against parking within 500 feet of any home.
As the Union-Tribune reports:
“Ocean Beach Neighborhood Watch” was printed on the bottom of the fliers found Thursday. When asked about them, Neighborhood Watch founder Nicole Ueno said she had not heard about them and they were not something the group would have done.
Police are saying these flyers are inaccurate and misleading. San Diego Police Capt. Scott Wahl told the U-T no date has set for enforcement, despite the flyers saying the new law would begin June 14. The U-T:
Wahl said officers are responding to calls about people suspected of violating the ordinance, which went into effect Wednesday morning, but they are not yet issuing citations. Instead, he said, officers are talking with people about the new law and informing them of four parking lots in the city where people can legally park overnight. …
The flier also states that the entire Dog Beach parking lot is a no-parking area at all times for people who live in their vehicles because of the restriction against parking within 500 feet of any home.
Wahl said he did not know how close homes were to the parking lot, but he doubted the restriction would cover the entire area. “The intent is to address vehicle habitation, not those who are there visiting the beach,” he said.
(Hat tip to Scott Kessler)
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
“Wahl said he did not know how close homes were to the parking lot, but he doubted the restriction would cover the entire area.”
Yes it does cover the entire Dog Beach parking lot. It isn’t even close. Use google maps and zoom in with satellite view. 500 feet from the houses on WPL easily covers the entire lot, and goes into the sand around it too.
The extreme SW corner of the lot is the part furthest away from a house, and is about 350 feet away.
the problem is, the stupid vague way this this sad aggressive letter is written, for the desired effect, it should say something like “no vehicular habitation” not slam people who may be living in their car, who are obviously allowed to visit the beach just like anyone else.
It should be a mirror looking moment when you find yourself on google maps measuring distances to bash homeless people, just sayin
The law in all its majesty doesn’t let me or even Jacobs or Papa Doug sleep in a dog beach camper either.
Who are these OB “homeowners” that they think they can make up anecdotal and outright false claims about those who own recreational vehicles, then force politicians to pass unconstitutional “laws” in order to force police to violate the civil rights of other citizens? The only thing that indicates someone is “camping” or “living in their vehicle” should be an expired registration, otherwise all vehicle owners are taxpayers with a permanent address, on an equal level as these lying, selfish homeowners. Did a bunch of Boss Hoggs just buy up all the Ocean Beach properties? Let’s get rid of spineless politicians and council members who waffle and bow down before wealthy homeowners at the drop of a plastic bag.
Like it or not, every parking spot in the dog beach lot is well within 500′ of homes.
Also SDPD is out and about issuing warnings, as was discussed at the council meeting. They said citations will be issued on the 2nd offense.
How many people drive there in their van, RV, camper or some type of vehicle that you can habitat in. I live 6 or 7 blocks from the beach and when my kids were little we would pack of the van with all the toys maybe a barbecue and head to the beach. We would leave usually some time after sunset and make the long trip home. It sure would look like we were living in the van. It seems lots of people do that especially when they come in from east county.
A day at the beach not living in a car at the beach but just using a public beach
Get them out of the lot. Absolutely within 500 feet of residential. Sick of picking up after them for over a decade now. More needles found in last 4 months than ever before. More feces on my street than ever before. They won’t even bother to use the public restrooms a block away.
tyler – are you admitting to putting out the misleading flyer? sounds like you have the spirit for it, my brother.
I’m in Hawaii right now. Thanks for making an accusation because I share an opinion the majority of the community wants
hmmm, what would jesus say? no room in the dog beach parking lot ….
hmmm, what would jesus have said? not, there’s no room in the inn, or rather, dog beach parking lot.