APD To Enforce No Vending Policy Around West End Mall During Final Four Weekend

A week before arguably the busiest weekend of the year in Atlanta, the Atlanta Police department has released a notice to street vendors that officers will be enforcing the no vending on public property laws during the Final Four.

In a prepared statement, Police Chief George Turner said, "our officers are respectfully letting anyone attempting to sell or display goods on the city sidewalks know that vending on public property is no longer authorized in the
City of Atlanta; and that to continue such activity would be in violation of the city’s ordinance."

In December 2012, Fulton County Superior Court voided the city’s ordinances through which the city had been able to permit vending on public property.  Now vending on public property is illegal according to City Ordinance Section 138-15.

“We expect compliance with the city’s ordinance, but are prepared to make arrests, if necessary,” said Chief Turner.

Locations that police are focusing their crack down on vendors are mainly around the large sporting facilities such as, Turner Field and around the GA Dome.  In addition to these locations, APD said there are cracking down on vendors near, "the Five Points area around the MARTA Station, Barbara Asher
Square (Downtown on Marietta Street), Woodruff Park, Baker Street in Downtown, and Lee Street near the West End mall.

A quick drive around West End Mall, shows that vendors have yet to be forced off of the public sidewalks, but as the weekend approaches it is expected that the vendors will be forced to leave.