Las Vegas may make it a crime to park on a pedestrian bridge while visiting the Strip
Visitors who stop on one of the 15 pedestrian bridges that span the Las Vegas tourist corridor could soon be charged with a misdemeanor. That's if a new ordinance introduced by the Clark County Commission last week is approved.
The measure would establish "pedestrian traffic zones" on bridges and within 20 feet of adjacent escalators, stairways and stairways, making it illegal to "stop, stand or engage in any activity that causes another person to stop or stand."
"The government of Clark County has a vital interest in ensuring safe pedestrian access to the Las Vegas Strip," the ordinance states. Clark County is the governing body of the Las Vegas Strip.
Race related?
The timing of the proposal makes it seem like a response to crowd behavior at last weekend's inaugural F1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas, when bridges were packed with pedestrians trying to watch and film the race.
But bridges impeding traffic flow is not a new problem. It's been plaguing the county - the governing body of the Las Vegas Strip - for at least four years.
The order cited an analysis by UNLV's Department of Criminal Justice that found disorderly conduct increased 23% on the Las Vegas Strip from 2018 to 2022, with 11% occurring on bridges, despite resorts Only 6% of the corridor's total available sidewalk space.
The analysis also showed a 1,700% increase in complaints about homeless people on bridges: from 56 in 2018 to 1,031 in 2022.
The resistance these bridges pose to pedestrian traffic is ironic because they were built in the 1990s specifically to improve pedestrian traffic at the Las Vegas Strip intersection below.
Although the MSG Sphere is not mentioned in the decree, since the world's largest exterior video screen went live on July 4, the pedestrian bridge closest to it has been constantly packed with pedestrians, standing still, waiting to capture the perfect image of the Sphere.
Obstruction of civil rights?
A local ACLU official told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the ordinance infringes on First Amendment rights of assembly and all but guarantees that its passage will trigger a legal showdown.
"People have the right to participate in activities protected by the First Amendment, whether it's protests, street performances or street art, and whether they end up trying to serve a religious purpose," said Nevada State Executive Director Athar Haseebullah. People." American Civil Liberties Union. Tell the newspaper. “None of these activities would be allowed under this specific proposal.”
The ordinance acknowledges its impact on First Amendment activities but maintains there is still "ample" room for free speech on sidewalks that are not part of the proposed pedestrian zone.
A public hearing on the measure will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. during the Clark County Commission’s next meeting.
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Source: www.casino.org
