The Oklahoma City Council held a public hearing Tuesday for a proposed ordinance that would prohibit unsafe activity in medians, setting the measure up for a vote in two weeks.
The version of the proposed ordinance introduced at the Council’s Sept. 15 meeting would have prohibited only solicitation in medians, but the Council amended it during Tuesday’s public hearing to include all unsafe activity. Exceptions include legally crossing the street and public safety personnel performing official duties.
OKC’s current ordinance already prohibits most unsafe activities on OKC streets, but not medians. The proposed amendment would prohibit the same activities on medians and remove an exception allowing the use of a permit.
City residents and staff have increasingly expressed concerns about safety and traffic flow posed by solicitors darting from medians into traffic to accept donations.
Violators of the current ordinance and the proposed amendment are subject to a maximum penalty of a $500 fine and court costs. People cited can choose to pay a $167 fine to the Court Clerk instead of appearing before a judge.
People with financial difficulties should appear in court, where a judge has discretion to determine if they are legally unable to pay on time. If so, they do not face jail time for failure to pay, and a judge can grant extra time or waive the fines and costs.
The proposed ordinance is set for a vote at the Oct. 13 Council meeting.
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Media Contact: Kristy Yager
297-2550 / 863-2831
kristy.yager@okc.gov
