ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Leaders in Orange County voted Tuesday to pass a ban on camping overnight on public land.
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However, the vote was not unanimous.
Orange County commissioners voted 4 to 2 to ban overnight camping on county land to follow a new state law.
The meeting itself lasted about an hour and a half.
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In a nutshell, the ordinance allows police to make arrests, but officials said they will focus on offering help to those in need.
It bans staying overnight on public property, county grounds, or roadsides, except for people living in vehicles.
The rule doesn’t apply during the daytime.
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Commissioners Kelly Semrad and Maribel Gomez Cordero voted against it.
Commissioner Nicole Wilson was not present for the vote.
Breaking this rule could lead to a $500 fine or up to 60 days in jail.
This change follows HB 1365, a state law that took effect in October, requiring local governments to create rules to stop public camping.
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