FORTUNA SOUNDS OFF FIRST ROUND OF WARNINGS TO ILLEGAL CAMPERS

Police sound out their first round of warnings Wednesday in Fortuna; the city’s new “no camping” ordinance has officially gone into effect.
 
The new legislation makes it illegal to set up any kind of camp on public property, and those camping on private property will have to get written permission from the property owner. Even then, they’re only allowed to camp for 7 days, then they have to vacate for 7 days if they want to return to the same spot. Wednesday morning verbal warnings were given to some campers on private property near Strongs Creek Plaza off of Fortuna Boulevard. Fortuna Police say the ordinance is a tool to combat issues with transients.
They say they’ve been receiving more and more complaints about panhandling and camping within the city.
 
“Some of these people in some of these areas have been camping there, living there for a long period of time,” said Fortuna Police Chief William Dobbersetin, “So they may be reluctant to leave.”
 
Patrolling officers today added that the ordinance will be tough to make a difference with this ordinance unless it’s heavily enforced because most of the people who will be cited likely can’t afford to pay the fine.