by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
The High Intensity Trespass Zone program that gives businesses a way to control trespassing – and thereby crimes like panhandling, sleeping in doorways, drinking in public and using streets and alleys for restrooms – was a hit when started and it is an even bigger hit now.
The bright orange signs with the two-inch tall warning are showing up in many store windows and doors lately.
HITZ allows the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to enforce the laws that are on the books – but first, property must be properly posted according to the city ordinance.
Terry and Vikki Wilkins own the UPS Store on North Hogan Street and were some of the first retailers to get on the program. The store has become a source for merchants to obtain the correct signs that conform to the ordinance against trespassing. A business can get a sign, or and instruction on how to fill it out and post it properly.
Vikki Wilkins said that the program has performed beyond her expectations. Before the signs were posted, she said she spent a lot of time cleaning the sidewalk near the back entrance to the store because people were not only sleeping there, but relieving themselves, as well.
“It’s going wonderfully,” she said. “I have had only one problem since we posted the signs. I have not had my water hose out a single time.”
Sean Goldy put his Italiano restaurant on Adams Street on the HITZ program just a few weeks ago, but he says he can already see positive results.
“I’ve had people sitting on the window sills in front of the restaurant and some have even come in the restaurant during lunch to panhandle my customers,” he said. “Two guys even brought cans of beer wrapped in paper bags and went into the restroom to drink them.
“Since the signs went up, we haven’t had a problem with panhandling.”
Goldy added that having the signs posted empowers him as a merchant.
“I’ll tell people that I’ll warn them once, but with the sign posted, I don’t have to warn them at all. I can just call the police,” he said.
Some merchants said that they think the police presence around Hemming Plaza has increased.
Not so, says the JSO.
“We’re not allocating additional resources. We’re just using what we have to better results,” said officer Wally Butler. “We have streamlined the process to get people who are a nuisance to shoppers and merchants off the streets. Instead of giving them three or four warnings, we can arrest them the first time, which saves us countless man-hours.”
Not all of Downtown’s merchants are enthusiastic about HITZ.
Maria Jones owns Tiara Shoes & Accessories on North Laura Street. She doesn’t have a sign in her shop window because she believes it might send the wrong message.
“I understand the purpose, but it seems to draw attention that there is a problem,” she said. “I wonder what people who don’t come Downtown very often think when they see the signs.”
According to Butler, the success of the program should not be measured in terms of how many people are arrested or how much arrests have increased due to the program.
“The goal of the project is not to increase arrests. The goal is to increase voluntary compliance with the law,” he said. “The accurate measure is, do customers and merchants feel more comfortable about doing business Downtown?”