By Linda Taaffe

Los Altos

A revision to the city’s anti-vehicle solicitation ordinance May 17 gives the Los Altos Police Chief more authority to prevent day laborers from seeking work along the streets based on safety issues.

The changes are intended to make the law more “defensible,” should a pending lawsuit against the city to abandon the ordinance make it to court, said City Attorney Marc Hynes.

A group of local day laborers are claiming the law allegedly violates their right to free speech under the First Amendment and are prepared to go to court if the city doesn’t rescind the law.

The updated law is based on a similar ordinance in Southern California that allegedly was upheld when challenged in court, Hynes said.

The Los Altos ordinance limits day worker activity on the streets by prohibiting potential employers from soliciting workers from their vehicles in specifically zoned areas.

The law is unable to prohibit workers from standing on the sidewalk.

The ordinance was intended to stop workers from jumping into waiting pick-up trucks at intersections due to safety issues, according to city officials who passed the law in 1997.

The revised law allows the police chief to declare an area a “no solicitation” zone if there are five or more people gathered along the street for the purpose of vehicle solicitation.

The chief has the authority to continue or discontinue a zone.