'Is Sleeping In Your Car Prohibited?': Sotomayor Grills Attorney In Contentious Homelessness Case 

I live in my van. I pay my own way. I work full time. as a home health care aide.I lost husband and home during pandemic. I am not paying rent to save and get ahead. Please don’t criminalize my life!!!

The same people against homelessness in their neighborhoods are also against the affordable housing in their neighborhood that would alleviate the problem.

We got money for WAR not for the POOR.😮

Imagine outlawing sleeping in your car overnight.

Some people in this country have become so cruel. No one seeks to be homeless. They are homeless due to mental illness, abuse at home or under employment. Many employed people are forced to be homeless. We have to create solutions and stop being punitive.

LAND OF THE FREE MY ASS

Im a straight, white, Christian woman who has never done drugs or drink, and i am poor. My rent went up this past lease, and i can't hardly pay what they are asking, and i won't be able to stay here next lease if it goes up. Im not even sure ill be here through out this lease because i take meds for my heart and i dont have insurance so i have to pay cash for doctors and medications and i have rwo dogs that i care for. I have a car, and i will not lose my car, so it will be paid first. If im homeless, then i have to do what i have to do if you people hate me for it , SO WHAT!!!!!

Let mercy and kindness ALWAYS be shown to the poor❤️😢

Kind of an important question because OTR truck drivers park overnight and are required to sleep in their vehicles when they run out of driving hours. People also sleep in their RV's, and automobiles, while traveling, or on lunch breaks from work, or while waiting to pick up passengers... So, "status" depends on the discretion of the officer. Passing a law like this would now give a city constable permission to harass every driver that he thinks is homeless. (Like a college kid on the way to college, or that unemployed guy who is driving his mother around to doctor appointments). Essentially, this could be a violation of the 4th amendment rights, 9th amendment, and possibly the 14th amendment. (rights to privacy).

Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. America is no longer free

Jesus replied to him, “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Conservatives would lock up Jesus and force him to make license plates to make the rich a little richer. Jesus chose to be homeless. He did it on purpose. He deliberately refused to own property or rely on private property.

There is no way if i end up kicked out of my apartment, am i not going to sleep in my car because im human and need to sleep, period?

Real estate speculation, unlimited property tax, has brought us to this point.

The attorney is as evasive as appointed officials testifying before Congress. The elephant in the room will not be discussed, and that is why is there so much homelessness?

Illegal to sleep in your car....wft

The 2007 mortgage crisis should have upended the political playing board demonizing the homeless. The population of people who lost their homes and remain homeless has never been tracked. You need an address to get consistent paying work. Not everyone can live in their car and access the services that allow them to ramp up to weekly motels. People living in their cars are not doing so voluntarily. These cities that are now trying to really make money on the poor by criminalizing and fining them should put efforts into affordable housing and programs to get people out of their cars and employed.

Attorney Evaded answering a direct question...

Too much government

Good questioning by Sotomayor.

Criminalize the Airbnb operations! It’s the rich people paying crazy amounts for shacks and running them as short term rentals that are largely responsible for the current housing crisis.

Do you know how many seniors are living in cars and vans? If they lose them they will also be sleeping in parks. Create safe parking lots with community showers and port a potties. EVERY TOWN NEEDS THIS.

Less government is the answer

50% of the homeless in the great state of California are over the age of 50. There are so many layers to this. It is impossible for the poor and low income people to retire in dignity.

I hope not! Because you go buy a new one chances are you'll have to sleep in it, before its paid for! I mean they cost more than the first house the bank and i purchased !

This attorney is laying an egg.

A code enforcement officer of the City of Chico in California is trying to enforce a "camping ordinance" for sleeping in a shed on private property.

When a studio apt is over $1000 a month I dont blame anyone for doing what they gotta do. Our lives are not meant to be spent making others wealthy.

This is so IGNORANT. People are homeless because they are poor and without options. Families have to live in their cars. Provide a helping hand. HELP people. Just so freaking Blind to reality

This is moving toward criminalizing being poor. Don't get me wrong we need to deal with the homeless Issue. But govt always goes way beyond the original intent when enforcing laws.

In Oakland the homelessness is way beyond Grant's Pass. there are 100,000+ unoccupied housing units in the bay area owned by LLCs, there's one next door to my house unoccupied since 2012. I don't know about the Rogue River Valley but I'm sure there are LLCs there also. The homelessness went way up since the housing crash 2008-2011 and the LLCs bought up a ton of foreclosed properties. Hoarding is the problem not people that can't afford to live anywhere.

Unfortunately, with today's inflation, homelessness is on the rise so there will be more and more people with no place to sleep at night. What will happen to them? What would Jesus do?

Here we go. Untouchable adult children acting NEW.

Nationwide rent control.

the homeless can sleep everywhere they choose but I cannot sleep in the car? This is ridiculous.

If tired when driving it is practically REQUIRED to pull over and rest... that means nap... IN the car... I have a house, I sleep in my van regularly when travelling or visiting out of town....

The supreme court deserves this disgusting case.

...so I guess if you have had a few drinks, you better drive? Right? Can't sleep it off in your car? Like I was taught to? Or just really exhausted? Keep going, you can't park?? Seriously? 😮😮

Why is a Supreme Justice even listening to an issue like this? Couldn't you have addressed this issue locally?

Well that's nobody's business because it's their car. There not in anyone else's car. But I don't think this should be heard by these courts

Yes sleeping in one's car is prohibited! Coast to coast! Just try it & see.... police and do all manners of stuff, including arrest!

Lol,stealth van life for me,saves me 24k a year not paying rent

That attorney is a snake in the grass on a rainy day.

I put 2200 miles on my car in the month of February once because the cops wouldn't let me sleep. Fuck the blue

I back the Supreme Court 100%.... They must be protected

We’re living in a time where most people don’t have saving in this country. When you live pay check to paycheck your always a couple emergency away from streets. Rents so high 🥺 no solutions though. Just more criminalizing the poor to hide the fact that the government is failing us and then punishing us for their short coming. These people lack compassion and creativity.

Thank you.

sleep in your car but not on my block

Sleeping in your car is at least decency

Cruelty is the point.

Free People with unrestricted Travel need to stop and rest/sleep especially after long distance travel to be Safe! You know, Rest Stops along the way! Control Freaks need to be put back in their place! Begging our forgiveness for their Transgressions!

Walmart allows sleeping in your car anywhere across the country, will that be illegal? What about sleeping in your RV alongside the road or at a rest area? People now live in the vehicles, that is their home…..they want to make that illegal? At the same time there are laws for littering but it’s not enforced…..what a waste of time and money. Again taking away freedom…..The UnUnited States is becoming more and more fascist.

Conflating parking with camping. What a douchey thing to do.

She squirmed around, but finally said sleeping in a car is violating the anti- camping even if the car is legally parked in an overnight parking spot.

I've noticed something interesting while serving the homeless community in downtown LA. I've never encountered anyone who is physically disabled or has children who are homeless. Instead, I have only come across people who are in the prime of their lives and are homeless. This raises the question: if homelessness is a biological need, what about other people? Do they not have biological needs, or are they not considered people by the judge?

Why are they even deciding this, what does this have to do with the constitution?

I don't like Justice Sotomayor's politics, but her incisive questions and ability to push the question is strong. The attorney she questions in this segment just cannot weasel her way around the Justice's line of questioning.

So, this attorney prefers parking lots for empty cars, without offering ANY viable solutions for safe housing for unhoused human beings. Let's hear some solutions for humanity. Look at Finland.

I don’t see even Coney-Barrett siding w this. It’s too much of an infringement of a basic human right. Sleeping??? Now, we’ve all been numb to Roberts siding with the weirdest of things and don’t get me started on Thomas.

Its not your car as soon as you registered it under the laws of the United States Corp . A State of ,,,,,, is a federal government Corp.

Not really paid any attention to this case prior to this video. In the past when not at work, I lived in my vehicle for two years, including sleeping in it during the day. I worked all night. I normally did not park on a city street, permitted parking time was too short for sleeping, most were two hour limits on parking. So I parked in the parking lot of various stores or malls or in good weather slept on the grass dividers between parking lot rows. From time to time, management would leave me notes that they were not "Park and Ride" locations and so I would move to a new location for a week or two, sometimes longer. I was employed and so did not consider myself "homeless" just "Houseless". Not sure if legally there is a distinction or not.

Yes living in your car is against the law. But people have no choice. Lots of elderly we cannot afford rent and food. Its one or the other. Im 63 and disabiled if my son hadn't takenme inidbe homeless.

Rent now is more than a single person working full time can afford in every single state in our nation. My own ex sister in law works a job full-time at Dollar Tree and is actively homeless. She has the cheaptest hotel she can find until her check is gone, and then she is in a tent until payday. No car. My cousin is homeless working as a house painter, sleeping in his car. Even if they earned enough to afford rent, there isn't anywhere that accepts less than 3x the rent. The cost for move in is typically thousands. For so many its insurmountable. If they are made to be illegal for just existing, I fear we will see an intense spike in suicide of homeless people.

San Francisco, and at least 4 other cities in CA have dozens, if not hundreds, of teachers sleeping in their cars during the school week because they can't afford to live closer than a 2 to 3 hour rush hour commute from the cities they teach in. SFO is so bad that the city council considered building public housing projects for public employees. LA already has housing projects for public employees. And they look as bad as one would expect public housing projects to look.

Danger! these judges are trying to find a solution. They dont do that. They decide on legal matter. Are we looking at cities having to provide housing for all who choose not to support themselves? Provide safe parking areas for people to live at? this is absurd. Hold the politicians accountable. No more immigration and enforce public intoxication laws!

Parking and sleeping in you car? is that a status or a behavior? nobody really wants to do that.

Why should they have the right to limit someone else’s rights to be free and live? Why should they dictate where you can sleep? Just ridiculous! Many times I have slept in my car at a gas station to be safe. Walmart lets you sleep in their parking lot! Just redact the case and let these people live free and clear!

Millions of tax dollars are spent on new parks and libraries and politicians take pride innaugrating those. Soon taken over by few homeless and people start avoiding due to safety or hygiene concerns. What a waste. Create public dormitories where you get free bed and restrooms and remove them from public places.

This is a good question... they need to differentiate between living in your parked car and sleeping in your car. I like to sleep in my car when I travel. We ALL know the difference between camping and homeless living in their car and junking up a public area, becoming an eyesore.

Is the problem sleeping in a vehicle? I think interstate truckers do that all the time.

So you can’t pass out in your car anymore better drive it home

Depends on current circumstances.

These are human beings. This discussion is about city parking tickets for automobiles, fines, and ordinances. Is this discourse the best we have? I daresay that the depth of solutions to reach out to one human being at a time in need is infinitely more complex. I asked tougher questions about humanity when I was five years old.

. . . wondering about this, what "rights" does a police officer have to carry out his duty to "police," to community standards vs. his obligated or required duties, limits of duties? What of the instance of a section of town being subject to a new wave of crime that arrived with the "homeless," or a group of vehicles arrives, campers or a stolen item buying and selling operation has set up on the side walk based upon a "homeless encampment," doesn't the officer and the city have a responsibility to the civilization city within their control to reduce the living accommodations to the tax payers. Issue a tax payer privilege card?

She doesn't sound very smart

How many years are homeless people being outside . Why are they worried now. BECAUSE ONG WANTS MONEY FOR ILLIGALS NOT FOR HOMELESS.

Yes, sleeping in your car is if it is unregistered and parked illegally as they do in Seattle. Sotomayor just wants special laws for them and enforcement for you.

I’ve lived in vehicles and quite frankly when it’s a car or the stars I’m not much considering the legality of my surroundings…I’m just sleeping in a vehicle. There by the Gods grace go I

They do have services for homeless. Just not for Americans.. for illegals. I work at an upscale Hotel chain. They put them up in our $230 a night Suites, 2 per family.. one for the kids and another for the parents because they won’t stick 5 or 6 in one Suite.. and the government pays for this for months and months at a time. Normally at least 6 months. Along with a debit card full of money that they come to our overpriced convenience shop in the hotel to buy $9 cans of Pringle’s and $7 bottles of Smart Water instead of going down to Walmart to buy it for a fraction of the cost. And why not, it’s not their money. Americans however are maybe given an option of a shelter with cots in one big auditorium, dozens sleeping together in the same space where theft is rampant and many feel unsafe. Where they’re kicked out of first thing in the morning at 6:30AM. No Suites. No Housekeeping service. Not even a locked door between you and the next stranger. That’s how our government … THIS government, takes care of its own in favor of foreigners.

Sounds like slavery.

You can see how unfair it is for someone getting prosecuted for anything is, The woman arguing to the supreme Court is so used to having the judge on their she is literally answering the question Yes they are continuing to violate the the city's code, when the simple question is overnight parking allowed anywhere in the city. The prosecution and judges have too close of relationship. Defense attorneys would never be allowed to even divert from the question in any way. They would almost certainly face sanctions or at least the threat of them. Prosecutors get to decide what's even turned over to the defense in terms of evidence, they is almost clear evidence to any criminal case of evidence that can be seen to prove someone's in a sense in some way, The prosecution never turns it over and says they don't see it that way. Sleeping is more than a right, it's essential to life let alone a properly functioning mind. The prosecutor is a monster in this particular case. I lived in Denver went homeless was and still is probably a horrible situation. It's incredibly sad to me, instead of governments worrying about lowering the cost of living, particularly rent prices and housing in general, they choose to outlaw being homeless.

I can't believe they want to criminalize homelessness

Was wondering , have many of the people in Government been living in a bubble and not lived out in the world, did they spend most of their time with their nose in a book. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in education and I went to college, but I grew up very poor and knew part of education was to learn about people and the world not just to go study to get some high paying job and give up ethics. I worked hard all my life, paid my taxes but at one point , I came close to loosing everything that I had worked hard for and came close to living on the street. The loving creator sent an Angel among us to save me, my sister. I am not saying I am perfect, we all make mistakes, but we must try to learn.

How do you define "camp"? Does the car move under its own power once every three days.

what amazes me is the fact both states & federal governments have rules & regulations that deal with the "public use land" under their control. & most of those rules & regulations also deal with these same arguments - it is not about nowhere else to stay it's about not wanting to stay anywhere else -

I live in California we have the largest amount of homeless in the country. The problem stems from how bad our housing situation has gotten and it's becoming a big problem in other states now too. Criminalizing people for something that's no fault of their own is ridiculous. The governments in these states where housing has gotten this bad is the main issue they don't allow for any building so the existing stock of housing keeps rising for everyone who is still willing to pay inevitably forcing people out.

The judgesess Should work for the u.s.mint =no argument,case closed 🔒,

Are these people humans we love them or not

If you work a full time job in America, you should be able to afford modest housing, utilities and food w/o government assistance.

Rewarding bad behavior Just Creates More of It ! If Cities or States set up minimalist camps at Public Expense for their survival - they should be forced to use them ! Create WPA CAMPS as during the Depression - Regain Some Sense of Dignity ( Instead of whining playing the Victim Card) ? Of course the Group EMPLOYED to Take Care of Them would fight tooth and nail TO GROW THE PROBLEM INDEFINITELY ? Media would love the Drama 😢

Well, there has to be a better way!

What was the final decision?

If Outdoor sleeping is ban ; will not that make housing an utility ??? 😂😂😂

Being Homeless is a status( life style) some choose. Some are forced into being homeless due to many circumstances which they have no control over. Neither is a crime! There are rules and regulations that must be enforced for the wellbeing of society as a whole. Public dedication at one’s convenience is one of those rules. Parking and code enforcement in business or residential areas should be enforced. Unincorporated areas of public land should allow over night sleep camping ect . Not a permanent camp. Public land still has to be maintained at by the local government. There will always be a local rule or law where ever you go.

Sonia Sotomayor: the dimmest bulb on the Christmas tree.

But is defecating in the street illegal…..but is doing hard drugs illegal…..is assault illegal? This is also issues of homelessles

HOMELESS should NOT be granted a special class protection and excepted from current residency laws. And it is twisted imo to use 8th Amendment to do it. Homelessness is a CONDITION. This case SHOULD BE ABOUT RESIDENCY - where someone sleeps. We have zoning and building laws for good reasons. I hope our High Court doesn't go down a dangerous rabbit hole. We have a homeless encampment in our town living on RR easement land. THE HOMELESS chose it probably because the RR provides potential transportation. The railroad had to erect a special fence to protect the line and their trains AND keep the "homeless" off their trains! The easement land is CONSERVATION LAND, It includes a tributary to the major river that provides potable water for people from the Capital county to the Atlantic Ocean. . There are water quality monitors that collect data for the various stream points. The data determines our county's storm water regulation compliance. That encampment is a public health horror! And it finally reached a tipping point when the river was being contaminated by that encampment. The majority who 'reside' there are drug addicts per officials who have investigated the site and occupants. It is no different that squatters in my opinion. Hijacking a location to satisfy a persona desire with zero concern for others. The act needs to be criminal because it causes harm or has the potential to cause harm. Drug addicts chose to cause harm to themselves AND most reach a point where they are a danger to society. These homeless have broken into cars, aggressively panhandled or just mugged people to gain enough money to continue down their self destructive path. It is backwards to me to grant such people special class protection! The other largest segment of the "HOMELSSS" encampment were found to be criminals who have used the encampment to try and avoid detection. The City finally told the occupants they had to move when the bill from the STATE arrived about harm to the state's potable water source! Great efforts, and cost, have been made to place these people in shelters. And right now there is an effort by some to do it all over again. The police arrested four sex offenders who had absconded - not from our state but other states! They also discovered over a dozen who had warrants. I hope the HIGH COURT understands LIBERTY is not a right to cause harm. Our laws must apply to one and all when it comes to residency.

The city seems to have a extremely weak case & they are stretching their own laws to fit a crime. There are many nomad travelers that live in their vehicle, rv. skoolie, etc whom are home in them. They work from them, they operate a business from them. Is that camping? I agree the homeless are destroying most everything they touch, but there are laws on the books not currently being used. This very vague set of laws will punish indiscriminately.

Leave the poor alone, go after the 1%

If you are on private property yes.

Supreme Court needs to work more and vacation less.