VEIL THAT WOULD GIVE POLICE OFFICERS THE ABILITY TO CITE ANYBODY WHO WAS SELLING STOLEN ITEMS. >> ABC SEVEN NEWS REPORTER LUZ PENA HAS BEEN COVERING THE STORY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. LUZ, WHY DO THEY NEED A NEW LAW TO TACKLE THIS PROBLEM? >> THEY ARE. IT MAY SURPRISE YOU, BUT IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO CITE PEOPLE FOR SELLING STOLEN ITEMS. THEY NEED TO PROVE THE ITEMS ARE ACTUALLY STOLEN. AND THERE'S ALSO SB 946, A BILL THAT DECRIMINALIZED STREET VENDING IN 2018. THAT LAW WAS MEANT TO PREVENT LOW INCOME WORKERS FROM BECOMING TRAPPED IN THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM, BUT IT ALSO LIMITED WHAT POLICE OFFICERS COULD ACTUALLY DO. NOW, THIS NEW LAW WOULD RESTORE POLICE OFFICERS ABILITY TO TACKLE ILLEGAL FENCING. SAN FRANCISCO'S FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL FENCING OPERATIONS INTENSIFIES TODAY. SENATOR SCOTT WIENER ANNOUNCED SB 925, A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW POLICE OFFICERS TO CITE ANYONE SELLING STOLEN ITEMS ON THE STREETS. >> IF A PERSON HAS BEEN CITED TWICE FOR SELLING THESE COMMONLY STOLEN ITEMS WITHOUT A PERMIT, THEY CAN BE CITED FOR A MISDEMEANOR. >> THE THIRD TIME SAN FRANCISCO'S BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WOULD NEED TO CREATE A LIST OF THE MOST COMMONLY STOLEN ITEMS SOLD ON THE STREETS. SFPD WOULD NEED TO CHECK THAT LIST OF ITEMS BEFORE MAKING CITATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE CITY. >> WE KNOW THAT THESE ISSUES ARE MOST PRONOUNCED IN THE MISSION TENDERLOIN. SOME PARTS OF SOUTH OF MARKET, A FEW OTHER AREAS, BUT THE CITY WILL BE ABLE TO USE THIS LAW WHEREVER THE ISSUE ARISES. >> IN NOVEMBER OF 2023, AFTER WHAT THE CITY CATEGORIZED AS CHAOS ON MISSION STREET, WITH FENCING OPERATIONS TAKING OVER SIDEWALKS AND UNPERMITTED VENDORS ATTACKING PUBLIC WORKS INSPECTORS, THE CITY BANNED STREET VENDING ON MISSION STREET THIS DECISION ALSO IMPACTED VENDORS WHO DID HAVE PERMITS TO SELL ON MISSION STREET. NOW, ALMOST SEVEN MONTHS LATER, AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF SB 925 GIVING MORE CAPACITY TO SFPD TO ENFORCE PERMITS, THE CITY HAS A NEW PLAN FOR THE PERMITTED VENDORS. >> WE HOPE THAT BY JUNE 17TH, PHASE ONE WILL BEGIN AND THAT WILL BE A RETURN TO UH- FOR VENDORS FROM 24TH TO 23RD STREET ON MISSION STREET, VENDORS WITH THE MISSION STREET VENDORS ASSOCIATION STOOD BEHIND SENATOR SCOTT WIENER AND THE MAYOR IN SUPPORT OF SB 925. >> IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US. THIS IS A WIN FOR US. >> THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SAYS THIS NEW BILL WOULD HELP THEIR INSPECTORS. >> IT WILL TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF OF PUBLIC WORKS STAFF, WHOSE JOB IS REALLY TO ENFORCE PERMITTED VENDING. >> SAN FRANCISCO POLICE CHIEF BILL SCOTT SAID OFFICERS WILL BE ABLE TO TACKLE THESE MARKETS AGGRESSIVELY NOW. >> IT PUTS THE ABILITY TO DO ENFORCEMENT ON THIS TYPE OF MARKET BACK IN THE HANDS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR A VERY, VERY NARROW FOCUS. YOU KNOW, FENCING, STOLEN GOODS AND IF SB 925 PASSES BY JANUARY 1ST, SAN FRANCISCO POLICE OFFICERS WILL HAVE A NEW ENFORCEMENT PLAN TO TACKLE ILLEGAL FENCING OPERATIONS. >> IN THE MEANTIME, ONCE THE INITIAL GROUP OF MISSION STREET VENDORS ARE ALLOWED BACK, POLICE WILL CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH PUBLIC
