DENVER — The Denver Police Department (DPD) doesn't want newly arrived migrants to be washing car windows in the middle of intersections. While police said it’s illegal and handed out flyers discouraging it, 9NEWS has learned they've hardly issued any tickets to people trying to make money on street corners.
DPD began handing out flyers a couple of months ago after officers received complaints about people walking through intersections offering to wash windows. Most of them are newly arrived migrants from Venezuela. Police warned that wandering through traffic in the middle of intersections and asking for money on street corners is illegal. Police said people could be fined and face charges.
While the threat of charges is real, 9NEWS learned very few citations have actually been issued. The Denver City Attorney’s Office said they’re only aware of 30 cases involving “solicitation on or near a street or highway” since the beginning of the year. That’s the charge someone could face for washing windows. 9NEWS doesn't know how many of those cases involve migrants.
Police said they hope to focus on education instead of handing out tickets.
"They’ve told us that we can’t get in the way of traffic," said Jose, a man from Venezuela who said he came to Denver nine months ago. "The police hasn’t bothered us. Here at this intersection, they haven’t."
For Jose and a group of men in south Denver, standing at the intersection washing windows is the best way they have found to make money in a country where they can’t legally work.
"If you can help us with what you can, we’re so grateful. We’re not bad people," Jose said.
The number of migrants arriving in Denver right now is pretty much at an all-time low. Tuesday, only two arrived, down from hundreds who arrived every day earlier this year. Denver just closed its last hotel shelter and is currently sheltering only 14 people at its congregate shelters. At its height, there were more than 5,000 people in shelters and hotels.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Next with Kyle Clark
9NEWS+
9NEWS+ has multiple live daily shows including 9NEWS Mornings, Next with Kyle Clark and The Culture Report, an original streaming program. 9NEWS+ is where you can watch live breaking news, weather updates and press conferences. You can also replay recent newscasts and find videos on demand of our top stories, local politics, investigations and Colorado specific features.
To download 9NEWS+ on Roku search for KUSA.
To download 9NEWS+ on Fire TV search for 9NEWS.