Bristol, Virginia City Council passes public camping ban

BRISTOL, Va. (WCYB) — The Bristol, Virginia City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday night making it illegal to camp on public streets and sidewalks.

The ordinance makes it a Class 4 misdemeanor for any person within the city to camp on city owned streets, sidewalks, alleys or other public rights of way.

The measure was approved unanimously by the city council.

Vice Mayor Neal Osborne stressed the importance of the community working together to help solve the problem. He spoke with business owners, city leaders, and even people experiencing homelessness, and said he voted "yes" for the ordinance because he is concerned about public safety.

"It does create a safety issue, not only for our businesses but for our residents that are trying to enjoy downtown trying to enjoy the park...so it's an issue we had to address," he said.

The new ordinance will not go into effect for 30 days.

The maximum penalty for a Class 4 misdemeanor in Virginia is $250.