New ban on stopping on Las Vegas Strip bridges targets people with disabilities, lawsuit alleges
LAS VEGAS– A woman who uses a wheelchair because of a spinal cord injury has accused the county that includes Las Vegas of unfairly targeting people with disabilities under its new ban on standing or stopping while crossing pedestrian bridges on the Strip, according to a federal lawsuit was submitted on Friday.
“Turning ordinary people who stop for a moment into criminals, like our client who has to stop occasionally because she uses a manual wheelchair, is reckless,” said Athar Haseebullah, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada.
The ACLU’s legal challenge comes a month after the ordinance went into effect in Clark County. The measure makes it a misdemeanor to stop, stand or engage in activities “that cause another person to stop” on pedestrian bridges on the Strip. This also includes a maximum of 6 meters around connected stairs, elevators and escalators.
Violators of the ordinance could face up to six months in prison or a fine of $1,000.
The ban does not apply to standing or stopping when someone is waiting to use an elevator, stairs or escalator, but it does not apply to people stopping because of a disability.
According to the lawsuit, Lisa McAllister, who cannot stand or walk due to a spinal cord injury, often stops unexpectedly because her arms are tired, her wheelchair is not functioning properly or her path is blocked by other people.
Therefore, the lawsuit says, the ordinance “effectively denies” McAllister and other people with disabilities the use of pedestrian bridges on the Strip because they cannot always cross without stopping. It also says the ordinance has prevented McAllister, a Las Vegas resident, from returning to the Strip.
Visitors often stop on pedestrian bridges in the famous tourist corridor to take photos amid the glittering casino lights or watch street performers.
The ACLU of Nevada is asking a judge to strike down the ordinance, which it says violates not only the rights of people with disabilities but also the rights protected by the First Amendment, including protesting or performing in the street.
“Clark County has prohibited activities that enjoy the highest protections under the First Amendment,” the lawsuit said.
A spokesperson for the province said Friday that the province does not comment on pending litigation. But last month, the province said in a statement that the ordinance is not intended to target street performers or people who stop to take photos, but rather to increase public safety by ensuring a continuous flow of pedestrian traffic over the bridges.
The measure “will help ensure that our world-class tourism destination remains a safe place for people to visit and cross,” the statement said.