Court Upholds Santa Barbara Law Barring RV Dwellers From Parking Overnight
A Santa Barbara court ruled Friday that police can begin enforcing a new city law that will prevent people who live in recreational vehicles from parking overnight on city streets.
The decision will allow authorities to resume ticketing the vehicles, which accumulate in parks and upscale residential neighborhoods near the beach.
The estimated 500 RV dwellers, some of whom have been living on the streets of the city for years, have accused the city of waging a class war to drive the homeless out of town.
Activists say the lack of affordable housing has made it impossible for poor people to find decent places to live. The only solution for many of them was to buy an RV and camp on the city streets, they said.
City officials were concerned that the roving RVs created an eyesore that alienated tourists and interfered with business downtown.
The law took effect March 19, but homeless activists sued and a local judge issued a restraining order pending Friday’s hearing.
Homeless advocates argued that the law was flawed because, among other things, the city failed to post signs stating the vehicles could not park on streets from 2 to 6 a.m. The city has since installed 33 signs.
Activists still plan to go to trial to challenge the law, which they say improperly targets one kind of vehicle.
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