Dennis Township Cracks Down On Loitering, Sleeping In Public Places

The Dennis Township Committee passed an ordinance that would extend a prohibition on loitering to “quasi-public” places and ban sleeping in cars and changing clothes in such places. The Cape May County Herald reports the measure prohibits loitering as well as obstructing people or vehicles and contains the presumption that anyone under 18 who is loitering is doing so without permission of his parents or guardian. The ordinance prohibits anyone from obstructing people or vehicles, listing various places, such as parks, streets and sidewalks, but continues by saying no person shall sleep in a public or quasi-public place. The ordinance also prohibits sleeping in any parked vehicle whether during the day or night. No one may loiter on any township property between 10 p.m. and sunrise. The ordinance also prohibits anyone from entering private property, including any lodging place, without the permission of the owner or person in charge, for the purpose of using furniture, showers, toilets or other facilities.