It's illegal in Albuquerque to live out of a parked car, but many people are doing it on Iron Avenue.Action 7 News was first to report on several homeless people living in and sleeping in their cars near downtown Albuquerque.As a transgender person, Rose said she prefers her Volvo over any shelter. Now, Action 7 News has learned her choice to stay in the car is illegal.City law reads, "No person shall stand, stop or park a vehicle on any street for the principal purpose of … living within the vehicle."VIDEO: Living out of your car illegal in ABQEven though it's technically illegal to live out of a parked car, Albuquerque police said they rarely enforce the law."The last thing we want to do is cite somebody or make an arrest, because somebody is living out of their car. The goal is to get them help," Albuquerque police Officer Simon Drobik said.Drobik said if the person is a repeat offender, they could be cited for criminal trespassing, but that is a last resort.City Councilor Isaac Benton, who represents the stretch of Iron Avenue where homeless are sleeping, said he's not happy police aren't arresting lawbreakers.Benton said city laws need to be enforced, but his office has decided against putting up signs to prohibit overnight parking on Iron Avenue. The reason being he doesn’t want to push the problem onto another street.

It's illegal in Albuquerque to live out of a parked car, but many people are doing it on Iron Avenue.

Action 7 News was first to report on several homeless people living in and sleeping in their cars near downtown Albuquerque.




As a transgender person, Rose said she prefers her Volvo over any shelter. Now, Action 7 News has learned her choice to stay in the car is illegal.



City law reads, "No person shall stand, stop or park a vehicle on any street for the principal purpose of … living within the vehicle."



VIDEO: Living out of your car illegal in ABQ

Even though it's technically illegal to live out of a parked car, Albuquerque police said they rarely enforce the law.



"The last thing we want to do is cite somebody or make an arrest, because somebody is living out of their car. The goal is to get them help," Albuquerque police Officer Simon Drobik said.



Drobik said if the person is a repeat offender, they could be cited for criminal trespassing, but that is a last resort.



City Councilor Isaac Benton, who represents the stretch of Iron Avenue where homeless are sleeping, said he's not happy police aren't arresting lawbreakers.



Benton said city laws need to be enforced, but his office has decided against putting up signs to prohibit overnight parking on Iron Avenue. The reason being he doesn’t want to push the problem onto another street.