Regulations change for on-street campers.

Byline: City Beat / Eugene by Joe Mosley The Register-Guard

HOMELESS SCOFFLAWS take heed: Your fudge factor has been eliminated.

Frustrated by a continuous stream of complaints against a small core of flagrant violators, the overseers of Eugene's on-street camping program for homeless people streamlined enforcement regulations this month to enable direct police intervention without the preliminary nicety of a written warning.

"A small number of people are generating almost all the complaints we get," said Richie Weinman, who monitors homelessness for the city. "It's about a dozen people, and wherever they are, that's where the complaints are."

In general, the city takes a don't-ask, don't-tell approach to those who sleep in their vehicles on city streets. It isn't condoned - and in fact is a violation of the city's "prohibited camping" code - but there's no enforcement action unless someone complains.

Even then, a complaint typically results in a visit from a homelessness counselor from St. Vincent de Paul, who works in cooperation with the city by issuing a written warning. If the camper then fails to move on, he or she may be cited by police.

Under the modified policy, those who have generated at least three complaints and written warnings within 30 days will be subject to citation without further warning. Likewise, those who have generated multiple complaints but have skirted the written warning system by showing up at their chosen parking spots late and leaving early may be cited on-the-spot.

Weinman said citations can result in violators being lodged in jail, and in the potential impoundment of their cars - which can carry a steep price for retrieval.

"We don't take it lightly," Weinman said. "It's not like we want to ruin people's lives, even more."

But the dozen or so troublemakers who generate most complaints - out of perhaps 200 homeless campers on the city's streets any given night - typically have substance abuse problems and are prone to theft and violence.

"It's not the homelessness," Weinman said. "It's the other behaviors. They just make very unpleasant neighbors."

Jury duty gets even easier

Obligatory civic duty has never been easier.

Three years ago, Eugene Municipal Court gave potential jurors a break by dropping its two-week jury duty requirement.

Rather than place an entire pool of jurors on standby for the period - during which they may or may not be ordered to serve on one or more of the largely traffic-oriented trials handled by the city - the court instituted a one day/one trial jury policy.

Jurors are now lined up for a single day's service as the trial docket requires. The duty sometimes spills over into a second day in longer trials.

As of this month, Municipal Court jury duty has been streamlined even further.

Previously, a block of about 200 potential jurors was summoned to City Hall each month to attend half-hour orientation sessions intended to prepare them for service, in the event they would be assigned to trials in the weeks ahead.

Now, each day's jurors will simply be asked to watch a videotaped orientation session immediately before being seated in their assigned trials.

The new video was produced by Metro Television. It's star? Associate Municipal Court Judge Donald Loomis.

Coming soon: an option for potential jurors to seek postponement of or to be excused from duty via the Internet, rather than calling or visiting City Hall in person.

The challenge: commute 

At the end of this week, just stash those car keys. Dust off your bicycle, or consult the bus schedule. At the very least, arrange to share rides to work with a co-worker.

The week of Oct. 7 to 11 will mark the city's third annual Commute Challenge - an opportunity for businesses and other employers to compete against each other in maximizing the percentage of their employees coming to work by means other than single-occupancy cars.

The challenge also helps commuters discover the benefits and availability of alternative transportation modes.

Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority spokeswoman Kim Metzler said the Eugene-Springfield area now meets federal clean air standards, but the airshed's future depends on a cooperative approach from the area's growing population.

"Lifestyle choices that people make as individuals collectively have a tremendous impact on the environment," Metzler said.

Dave Hauser, president of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, also endorsed an expanded use of alternative transportation modes as a means of maintaining the area's edge in liveability.

"Many businesses are located here because they value our outstanding quality of life," Hauser said.

The Commute Challenge, sponsored by the city's Transportation Division, will include a gathering at the downtown Park Blocks at 5 p.m. Thursday. City Council members will serve ice cream to participants.

Reporter Joe Mosley can be reached at 338-2384 or by e-mail at [e-mail]

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CITY BEAT / EUGENE Joe Mosley