LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Police (LMPD) and Louisville Homeless Services Division did their scheduled "cleanings" under the overpasses of Interstate 65 in the Smoketown neighborhood Monday. It was just hours after street camping officially became a crime in Kentucky. Despite the law change, WHAS11 did not see police arrest or cite anyone who was camping.
House Bill 5, coined the "Safer Kentucky Act", increases penalties for firearms violations and violent felonies, and adds new wordage about street camping. The law became effective on Monday.
It is a "violation" of the new law to camp on a public street or sidewalk, and is a Class B misdemeanor for the second and each subsequent violation. WHAS11 saw police take down names of people who were camping at the intersection of East Jacob Street and South Brook Street, and it seemed like police asked them to tear down their tent and leave.
LMPD did not cite or arrest anyone.
WHAS11 asked Mayor Craig Greenberg's office for confirmation of what officers and city employees were instructed to do, and if the directives will change under the new law. Kevin Trager, the mayor's press secretary, sent this statement:
"Our Homeless Services team works every day to connect people in crisis with emergency shelter and other services. It is also critical that our streets, sidewalks, bus stops, and other public spaces are safe and accessible for everyone. We will continue with this approach to address our homelessness challenges while we build the Community Care Campus and advance plans for a Youth Shelter."
Greenberg was asked about his administration's response and adoption of HB 5 at his most recent weekly press conference.
"Right now, we plan to continue doing what we are doing; and that is first -- we are focused on services and shelter, on providing more services and shelter for individuals who are experiencing homeless," Greenberg said last Tuesday. "If people are exhibiting disorderly behavior. If they are breaking the law -- regardless of their housing status -- if somebody is committing an assault, if they're stealing something, if they are destroying property, if they are defecating on sidewalks...if they are committing crimes, we will hold them accountable."
Metro Government performed 92 cleanings or relocations of heavily-camped locations in 2023, which was an increase from 63 in 2022.