The Brockton City Council on Tuesday voted 7-4 to ban camping on public property and take down homeless encampments.

Brockton City Council passed a ban on public sleeping and camping with a split vote Tuesday night in an effort to address a growing number of homeless encampments in the city. The new ordinance makes it illegal to sleep on any public property at any time or to camp in or around any street,

Protesters packed city hall to oppose the new rules that impose fines for loitering and illegal camping that could lead to jail time.

The new rules reflect how city leaders are attempting to crackdown on homeless encampments after complaints about public safety.

Fines could soon be issued for homeless people living in encampments or loitering in the city of Brockton after two ordinances passed City Hall Tuesday night.

Tents in public spaces will be removed, and in Brockton, unhoused people could pay fines of $200 per day. The post Homeless encampments now illegal in Brockton and Lowell after cities ban outdoor camping appeared first on Boston.