County may pass tough ordinance on day laborers

Friday, Jan. 28, 2005 | 10:58 a.m.

Day laborers lining Eastern Avenue and other thoroughfares in Clark County in search of temporary work could soon have a more difficult time.

The Clark County Commission is scheduled to consider introduction of an ordinance that would make it illegal for the would-be employers to stop in traffic to pick up the day laborers, who are often undocumented immigrants.

Commissioner Bruce Woodbury said the ordinance is an effort to respond to concerns expressed by residents close to plant nurseries on Eastern. He said the concerns have included some graffiti and litter from the day laborers.

The ordinance would prohibit "an operator of a vehicle from stopping, standing or parking a vehicle in a travel lane of a roadway for the purpose of soliciting the employment of another person."

Woodbury said drivers frequently stop in traffic to pick up the laborers.

"There has to be a safer system," he said.

One of those who said discouraging the day laborers would be beneficial was Angel Ramirez, manager of Star Nursery near Wigwam Parkway. Ramirez said the nursery keeps a security guard on site to shew day laborers away from the company's parking lot.

"It's a nuisance," Ramirez said. "We're calling Metro (Police) almost every day... We don't want our customers bothered."

Don Burnette, chief administrative officer, said Metro officers suggested the ordinance based on a similar law already on the books in the city of Las Vegas.

"It doesn't focus on the day laborers themselves. It focuses on the drivers who are stopping to pick up the laborers and are blocking traffic."

Metro Detective Mick Gillins said the ordinance goes further than existing laws that already prohibit stopping in traffic. The proposed ordinance would cover the shoulder areas of the roadways as well.

The city ordinance on the books, which like the proposal in the county carries a potential fine of $1,000 and/or six months in jail, has not always been as effective as Metro would like, mostly because there are simply not enough police to enforce the rule, Gillins said.

"It has been successful somewhat," he said. "Nothing is perfect. You've got to try something... The same things that they've had a problem with in the city is now becoming a problem in the county."

If introduced by the commission, the issue could come back for public discussion and possible passage Feb. 15.