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Public Safety Ordinance
In December of 2005, Pittsburgh City Council passed an ordinance protecting the rights and safety of persons walking on our city streets. Women seeking abortion in Pittsburgh and their support persons are among those persons who might benefit from this new ordinance. Within 100 feet of the door of a place of business to which you might be headed, you have the right to say to any person walking too close to you, touching you, or saying things that you do not want to listen to, "I DO NOT WANT TO TALK." Once you say those words, persons must stay 8 feet away from you. If they do not move back instantly, they have already broken the law. In addition, if persons get too close to your car as you are trying to get out of the car and you tell them , "I DO NOT WANT TO TALK", they must move away from your car.
Our city police are well aware of this law and if the persons do not move after you tell them that you do not want to talk, simply dial 911 and tell the police. If you are already at our clinic, the address is 200 N Highland in East Liberty. You can print this page up along with a copy of the ordinance itself and bring it with you at the time of your appointment if you want. In that way, you can be assured that no one will be able to get in your way, touch you or in any way impede your entry into the clinic. The Pittsburgh City Council passed this law so that your entry into the clinic is protected.
One more thing to remember. DO NOT TELL YOUR NAME TO ANYONE ON THE STREET. NO PATIENT ESCORT WILL EVER ASK YOUR NAME. Patient escorts on the street in yellow tee shirts saying Pro-Choice Escorts will ask your permission to walk with you. They are all trained to be helpful and can keep you company as you walk to the door. But they will not ask your name so you do not have to tell anyone at all your name until you are inside the building.
Click here to download the Ordinance in PDF format. Note in particular Section 623.03 which describes the eight foot bubble zone that protects you from unwanted contact with protesters.