Mission Viejo Curbside Vendors Must Go Easy On The Swears

MISSION VIEJO, CA — It's almost impossible to unsee after you've witnessed it—flagrant profanity, whipping in the Orange County ocean breeze on sidewalks of Mission Viejo. Now, the city of Mission Viejo aims to do something about the vendors.

Sidewalk stands selling merchandise that displays profanity, profane pictures, or graphics are now to be blocked from public view, the City of Mission Viejo asserted on Wednesday. The

According to some residents, it was one thing during election season, selling merchandise for this candidate or that, but the merchandise stands have taken an ugly turn in the city.

Mission Viejo alerted such sellers to their Municipal Code Section 11.10.020 and 14.01.580 on Wednesday. Code Enforcement will be out, doing their work soon, according to the city.

Resident Kathy Krieger praised the city over Twitter.

"Thank you!" Krieger wrote. "I'm tired of seeing profanity in print by the street vendors. Do you know who I mean."

Vendors can reach compliance by removing or concealing those profane items from public view, the city said. Otherwise, they can expect daily citations.

Yes, they are still allowed, if they follow the rules. No, they cannot block access to ramps or residents with disabilities.

A Sidewalk Vendors Bill, opposed by Senator Patricia Bates, says that all vendors can sell merchandise on public sidewalks as long as they do not block handicap access. No permit is required, though fines can be levied if they display "harmful material to minors in public view."

That's in Section 14.01.010 of the Municipal Code, according to the city.

Each citation can reach upwards of $500, the city says.

No vendors were available for comment as of this report.

Whether they will choose to continue to operate their booths amid such fines remains to be seen.

What do you think? Should the stands be cited if they don't follow the municipal code? Let us know in the comments below.