Roseburg will introduce jail time for some public camping law violations

The Roseburg City Council voted unanimously on Monday to impose prison sentences for some violations of camping regulations.

Oregon law requires that restrictions on public camping be reasonable in terms of time, place and type. In Roseburg, homeless people are allowed to stay overnight on certain types of city property, provided they leave the property each morning.

However, public camping is not allowed in residential areas, near waterways, and in several other locations. The city also has rules regarding shelter size, noise, fire, and trash disposal.

Until now, violations of the camping rules were only punished with a fine. After the US Supreme Court imposed a camping ban in Grants Pass earlier this year, the Roseburg authorities have now introduced stricter penalties.

Starting September 25, the first two violations can be punished with fines of up to $100 and $250 respectively. Subsequent violations can result in up to seven days in jail.

Roseburg Police Chief Gary Klopfenstein said the change will encourage people to use the city's Transitional Court, which allows defendants to have their sentences reduced if they complete a rehabilitation program.

However, some members of the homeless community criticized the plan at Monday's city council meeting, citing a lack of adequate support services in the city.

“To hear that I could have to pay a fine and go to jail when I'm just trying to make ends meet is ridiculous,” said Nicole, who only gave her first name. “They're not going to help us. I signed everything and nothing is happening.”

Betsy Cunningham, president of Housing First Umpqua, told KLCC that Roseburg lacks places where homeless people can stay for long periods of time.

“You don't find any stability. You don't get any permanent peace,” she said. “You're always in danger of someone harassing you and forcing you to move.”

Roseburg officials have been considering whether to build a new accessible shelter, but at Monday's meeting, Mayor Larry Rich said the City Council should decide if that's still necessary with these new penalties in place.

“I think it's smart to say, 'Let's see what happens,'” Rich said, “and then make a decision whether or not to put a campground in.”

Cunningham said homeless advocates will now seek to file a lawsuit challenging the city's ordinance.