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Paperwork Issue Delays Enforcement Of San Francisco Sit/Lie Law

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – A majority of San Francisco police officers have been trained in how to deal with the city's new sit/lie ordinance, but enforcement is being delayed by a paperwork problem.

The measure, which bans sitting or lying on San Francisco sidewalks between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., was passed last November. Since then, officers have been trained on how to enforce the policy.

KCBS' Bob Melrose Reports:

They are supposed to pass out cards that have a list of services on them. But San Francisco Police Lieutenant Troy Dangerfield said the cards haven't come back from the printer.

"This is more of a quality of life issue. We'll use it as a community policing tool, not necessarily something for officers to go out and start enforcing and citing people because they're on the sidewalk," Dangerfield said. "We're trying to help the merchants. Compliance is what we're looking for and not citations."

The cards, which are printed in multiple languages, are just one tool being used to help get people off the streets.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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