JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Dozens of new laws are now in effect in Florida as of Tuesday, including one that effectively bans sleeping and camping outside on public property.
That means the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will start talking to people and making sure they understand what’s expected with the new law.
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Sheriff T.K. Waters told News4JAX that people will first start getting warnings.
JFRD will have a 7-member team in place working to help get them into permanent housing and if they refuse services and continue to camp publicly, that’s when the sheriff’s office will step in.
“We’re dealing with human beings in difficult situations,” Waters said. “But at the same time, they have to obey the laws. Now that those laws are passed and in place, I think business owners and people in the community have the right to expect us as a law enforcement agency and the sheriff to do something about that, should they not take the warning and education process. So, taking all that into account, a good balance in how we do things but address the issue. Because quite frankly, I hear about it quite often.”
It’s important to remember, that people would be able to sue Jacksonville and other Florida cities that are not in compliance by Jan. 1.
The new law does not apply to sleeping on private property.