HR5163-119

What This Bill Does

This bill creates a D.C. public-property camping offense. The introduced version directly prohibits camping outdoors on public property in the District of Columbia. The reported version amends the D.C. Code to make it unlawful, without lawful authority, to camp outdoors on public property. A violation can result in a fine of up to $500, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.

The reported text gives a detailed definition of camping. It covers erecting, placing, maintaining, or using tents, tarps, or other temporary shelters for living-accommodation activities. It also covers sleeping or preparing to sleep inside or outside a motor vehicle, including laying down a sleeping bag, blanket, or bedding material. The bill therefore treats public encampments and vehicle sleeping on public property as enforceable criminal violations.

Who Benefits and How

D.C. public-space maintenance officials benefit from a clear enforcement rule for removing or preventing outdoor camping on public property. D.C. police officers benefit from a specific statutory offense and penalty range when responding to tents, tarps, temporary shelters, or vehicle sleeping. Nearby residents and park users benefit if public sidewalks, parks, and other property are kept clear for general use. Local businesses near public spaces and property owners near public spaces may benefit if the rule reduces encampments around storefronts, entrances, and public rights-of-way. Public safety advocates benefit from a stricter legal tool for managing public spaces.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Unhoused people camping on D.C. public property bear the direct burden because the bill exposes them to fines, jail, or both. People sleeping in vehicles on public property are also covered by the definition and face criminal enforcement. Homeless-services outreach teams may face added pressure to find shelter, treatment, or alternative placements before or after enforcement. D.C. courts must process citations, prosecutions, or jail sentences. D.C. jail and corrections staff could face short-term custody burdens if people are sentenced to imprisonment. Civil-liberties advocates and housing advocates bear a policy burden because the bill criminalizes survival conduct tied to homelessness.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits camping outdoors on public property in the District of Columbia without lawful authority.
• Provides penalties of up to a $500 fine, up to 30 days of imprisonment, or both.
• Defines camping to include tents, tarps, and temporary shelters used for living-accommodation activities.
• Covers sleeping or preparing to sleep inside or outside a motor vehicle on public property.
• Adds the prohibition to the D.C. Code in the reported version.