Dale City, Va. –– Virginia State Police on Thursday made good on their promise to remove a band of homeless campers in Dale City.
About 10:45 a.m., troopers focused their attention on the islands of a cloverleaf intersection at Interstate 95 and Dale Boulevard. The campers were made to pack up their things and leave the state-owned land, which they technically had been trespassing on.
“Nobody has been cited with any trespassing, and we are also coordinating with the shelter coordinator to see if VDOT can take items of value to a drop-off location so that they can later be picked up, and nothing is lost,” said state police spokeswoman Corinne Geller.
State police say campers crossing Dale Boulevard posed a safety hazard to motorists.
Some drivers complained to Del. Scott Lingamfelter (R-31), who says the campers are a danger to public safety.
“I think we need to enforce no-trespassing laws on the state-owned land, just imagine if you hit one of those folks…if you hit somebody and take their life, it’s a bad wrap and a lasting memory that nobody wants to have,” said Lingamfelter.
The state delegate who represents Woodbridge then shared his concerns with VDOT, which in turn then asked the state police to begin enforcing the no trespassing rule.
One week ago, troopers began telling campers –– some of which have spent the past 10 years living in the woods –– they were no longer welcome on state property.
Many who left the camps Thursday said they would try to make camps at other locations in Woodbridge, on a privately owned parcel of land behind Home Depot and the Smoketown Stations shopping center off Prince William Parkway.
Campers said they chose to live on the islands of the cloverleaf because it’s close to the Prince William County Winter Shelter, where many can shower and have a hot meal.
While police issued no citations Thursday, at least 21 people at the camps were issued written warnings stating they would be arrested if they returned to the property.
All of the homeless campers had left the property by 5 p.m., said Geller.
