City Officials Discuss Measures to Curb Parking Lot Loitering
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana Considers New Loitering Laws
The city of Shreveport, Louisiana has become concerned over a growing trend of loitering in parking lots, which has led to multiple violent incidents over the years. To address this issue, city officials have convened a public safety committee meeting to discuss possible preventative measures. Among the ideas being considered, the introduction of locking gates and mandatory parking lot registration with the police department have emerged as primary solutions.
Years of Problems
Over the years, Shreveport has seen multiple instances of people crowding in parking lots of closed businesses. In many cases, situations have escalated into violence, giving rise to the term “parking lot parties.” For instance, just last month, a shooting erupted at a closed CVS parking lot on Hollywood and Hearne Avenue, leaving four people injured. Tragically, parking lot violence is not a new phenomenon in the city. In 2021, a mother of nine children, Jalecia Jennings, was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Union Masonic Temple on Hearne Avenue.
Possible Solutions
In response to this longstanding issue, city officials, including City Councilman Gary Brooks, are considering the introduction of locking gates to prevent access to empty parking lots. “What about requiring a gate that locks so people don’t have access to the empty parking lot?” asked City Councilman Brooks during the meeting. “That would be awesome for us,” responded Police Chief Wayne Smith.
In addition to the gating proposal, Police Chief Smith suggested that businesses register their properties with the police department. This measure would allow police to exercise authority over private lots. If people are found on registered lots without clear business purposes after closing hours, they could be cited or arrested for trespassing.
Local Response
The proposed measures have received mixed responses from local residents. Alvin Oliver, whose cousin was shot during the aforementioned CVS parking lot shooting, called for more stringent steps. “Make them put up a barrier and if they don’t want to spend the money to put up a barrier, have them put up cameras and link their cameras to the real-time crime center,” said Oliver. He also proposed that businesses that did not want to install barriers or cameras should pay for additional police patrol instead.
In addition to preventative measures, Oliver suggested designating a place for people to socialize. He believes that creating such spaces could help alleviate the issue of loitering in inappropriate areas, reducing the risk of violence.
Looking to the Future
As of now, no firm decisions have been made regarding the proposed measures. However, with the rising concerns over parking lot loitering, city officials and community members alike are hopeful that effective solutions will be implemented soon.
