Columbia Police Department educates public ahead of July 1 start of median restrictions

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Public education efforts are underway by the Columbia Police Department as the city's new median ordinance is set to take effect July 1.

CPD Lt. Clint Sinclair, who is overseeing the implementation, said education efforts began the first week of April, providing a three-month window before the law takes effect.

"I think we're somewhere between 60 and 70 officers on patrol," Sinclair said. "We pushed our directive saying, 'Hey, if you're on patrol and you see conduct that will violate the ordinance when it goes into effect, go ahead and stop and have a conversation with them,' and then we also have some of our specialty assignments that work with community partners,"

Officers have been provided with a flyer they can distribute, and resource providers are also using the materials as part of the public education effort.

The city has also created a webpage outlining the ordinance's criteria and identifying the areas where it applies, along with sharing videos on CPD's social media pages.

"We've been working on reducing pedestrian fatalities for a long time, and this is another step in that direction," Sinclair said.

When enforcement begins on July 1, Sinclair said officers will focus on warnings and education before issuing citations for repeat violations.

"We're always looking for voluntary compliance first, and I would anticipate, as with most things, we try to get people warnings, and it's the repeated behavior, the repeated conduct that then we're looking at maybe a citation," Sinclair said. "Part of the early campaign now is to maybe give those warnings now and give time for people to prepare for the ordinance to come into effect,"

Sinclair said the ordinance is not based on what a person is doing while standing on a median, but rather on their location. City leaders have been adamant about that aspect of the law so that it withstands First Amendment scrutiny.

"It doesn't talk about panhandling or protesting or demonstrating. It's just strictly where you are in the roadway, and it doesn't matter what you're doing in a median," Sinclair said. "If you're asking for money, if you're protesting something, if you're fundraising, none of that matters."

According to the city's website, remaining on a narrow median after two light cycles will be considered a violation. Officers will address violators and ask for voluntary compliance before writing a ticket.

Sinclair said officers will not put handcuffs on people or take them into custody just for violating the ordinance.

Check back and watch ABC 17 News at 6 to find out where police are concentrating their efforts, and why some don't think the median ordinance will be effective.