Reno City Council eases criteria for citing trespassers along railroad tracks

The Reno City Council voted 4-1 Wednesday to adopt an ordinance that would make enforcement of trespassing near railroad tracks easier.

Council member Meghan Ebert voted in opposition and Council members Devon Reese and Jenny Brekhus were not in attendance.

It’s already illegal to trespass on railroad tracks. The newly approved ordinance removes the requirement for "No Trespassing" signs or fencing along the tracks, closing a loophole that previously required such signage in order to cite trespassers.

Only one public comment was given, from Ilya Arbatman, who has previously spoken against this ordinance.

“We seem to be under the delusion that criminalizing homelessness will get people off the street and into housing,” Arbatman told the RGJ in an email. “There is actually nowhere for most of these people to go. Until we create more accessible housing options, criminalizing the poor will remain both pointless and inhumane.”

“This is a complex issue when it comes to finding the balance with people that are struggling,” Mayor Hillary Schieve said, emphasizing that should would continue to support this ordinance.

Jaedyn Young covers local government for the Reno Gazette-Journal. Her wages are 100% funded by donations and grants; if you’d like to see more stories like this one, please consider donating here . Send your story ideas and feedback to Jaedyn at jyoung@rgj.com.

This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Reno City Council eases criteria for citing trespassers along railroad tracks