Is Reno's Whip Enforcement Further Criminalizing Poverty and Worsening Local Homelessness?
A recap of recent Our Town Reno reporting plus bonus content.
A recent video message by Reno PD making the social media rounds is reminding residents that it’s illegal to possess or use bullwhips in Reno’s downtown corridor.
An officer in the video says Reno PD has cited or arrested 11 people within the last two months and asks residents to report any whip use to police immediately, making it sound like an absolute priority.
“This law helps maintain a peaceful environment and ensures public safety,” the officer says in the video. He adds “misusing a whip can create unnecessary tension and dangerous situations.”
Sure it’s a loud sound that can startle initially. Our previous reporting in recent years, with interviews of multiple whip users, both male and female, indicated it’s been a tradition for many unhoused here to make their own whip and then use it as a de-stressing mechanism, to pass the time, or to alert their friends of those they view as threatening arriving in their vicinity.
What about pickup trucks rolling coal on joggers, EV drivers and pedestrians? We don’t see Reno PD going after them very much. What about motorcyclists veering threateningly into cyclists, as some did during the recent Street Vibrations, or startling people with loud and sudden accelerations?
The 2021 Reno whip ordinance, not thought about much until the recent video, clearly targets the unhoused walking around, since they are the ones who’ve had whips here. Being unhoused can strip individuals of their courage, and for some having a whip gave them a modicum of strength to face a world crumbling around them.
Research indicates the unhoused are much more likely to be victims of crimes than to commit any themselves, even as their mere existence without having shelter at night or a place to go during the day has become a crime.
Enforcing laws criminalizing homelessness only makes the problem worse, more challenging for those on the streets and more expensive and complicated for those who want to help.
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Whips are threatening and a weapon. Yes, they are primarily used by the homeless population that congregates downtown. Reno also attracts tourists downtown and cracking whips isn't a great way to greet visitors. Does the law target homeless people? Yes. Should all laws be enforced? Yes.