New signs meant to deter motorists, not pedestrians

By Allison Brophy Champion

Published: June 15, 2008

A few “no stopping or standing” signs will soon be erected along Bus. 29 in the primary area where day laborers gather to wait for work.

However, the signs will not mean the mostly Hispanic men can’t keep standing there.

Instead, said Culpeper Police Chief Scott Barlow, the new signs will allow police to issue parking tickets to vehicles that pull over into the public shoulder to pick up the men.

The chief’s decision to erect the “no stopping or standing” signs could put to rest months of discussion, initiated by Councilman Steve Jenkins, to instead put up “no loitering” signs in the area, like a new state law, effective July 1, will allow.

However, the new law only permits the “no loitering” signs to be erected along the side of a road in areas where it has been determined to pose a “public safety hazard.

But last month, following a presentation by the Police Department, the Town Council Public Safety Committee determined no public safety hazard exists in the area and, therefore, loitering signs should not be erected.

In addition, Town Attorney Bob Bendall previously informed council that loitering laws, by and large, are unconstitutional.

Barlow said Tuesday it was his call to put up the “no stopping or standing” signs, primarily in front of Culpeper Motor Corporation, near where one of the larger groups of day laborers stands next to the guardrail beside the highway.

But again, he reiterated, that doesn’t mean police will start moving people along. Having the signs in place by the end of this month, Barlow said, will permit officers to ticket vehicles pulling over into the shoulder.

Without signs in that area, police cannot do so, he said.

Town police cannot issue tickets to motorists who pull over onto private property, which most often happens in relation to the day laborers.

Councilman Jenkins felt the “no stopping or standing” signs was a good place to start.

“I think any proactive action is appropriate, and certainly I am pleased to hear that,” he said. “Hopefully, it will continue to correct things and, come July 1, we will see what happens with the loitering law.”

Jenkins said he didn’t see how the town could “defy” enforcing the new state law and said he would be paying attention to how the issue progressed.

Allison Brophy Champion can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 101 or