HAGERSTOWN – Hagerstown police reported no increase in law enforcement contacts related to the city’s outdoor lodging ordinance, citing colder weather and expanded shelter availability as key factors in reduced outdoor activity.
Police Chief Paul Kifer presented updated data during a Dec. 9 work session outlining how the ordinance has been applied since its implementation. Kifer said the department has not seen an uptick in enforcement actions since the last report.
Contacts remain steady since ordinance took effect
According to the data, police contacts have been nearly evenly split between proactive outreach and responses to calls for service. Most individuals encountered were single adults aged 35 to 45, and most contacts occurred on public property rather than on private land.
Unemployment and housing instability remain key factors
Kifer said unemployment remains a significant contributing factor among individuals contacted, with most reporting they were not working. A majority also said they had nowhere else to go at the time of contact.
At the same time, a smaller portion indicated they were outdoors by choice or unable to return to a residence due to personal conflicts.
Majority of individuals are local or from nearby areas
Residency information showed that most individuals were local to Hagerstown or Washington County, though some originated from nearby jurisdictions including Baltimore, Frederick, Martinsburg, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.
Enforcement focuses on education, not arrests
Police emphasized that enforcement of the ordinance has relied primarily on education and referrals rather than arrests. Kifer said the arrests that occurred were related to outstanding warrants, drug offenses or other violations unrelated to the lodging outdoors ordinance itself.
Shelter availability credited with reduced outdoor activity
Shelter availability and colder-than-normal weather were cited as contributing to the decline in outdoor lodging contacts. Community partners have reported an increase in individuals seeking assistance, with some citing the ordinance as a reason for seeking services.
Next steps
Council members requested that future updates include month-to-month visual data comparisons to track trends over time. Kifer said the department will continue collecting data and is scheduled to provide another update in January, after which the council will consider whether to allow the ordinance to sunset, extend it or make it permanent.
