LAWTON – The Trespass Enforcement Authorization Form, allowing owners or managers of residential property in Lawton to authorize Lawton police to cite trespassers on their premises in the property owner’s absence, is accessible online.
By completing and submitting the form to the Lawton Police Department, property owners/managers grant explicit permission for law enforcement officers to take appropriate action against individuals found trespassing on the owner’s property even if the owner is not present at that site. The authorization applies solely to vacant single- family homes and/or open and vacant lots.
The form is expected to benefit homeowners who live out of town or out of state, are on vacation, or are hospitalized or in a nursing home.
The form is online at www.lawtonok.gov under the Residents tab. The form requires the physical address of the property, acknowledgement that the property has been posted as closed, and documentation, such as a water bill, property tax bill, or a deed showing ownership of the property.
The form can be submitted either online or in person to the Lawton Police Department at 100 SW Railroad St. Once the form is submitted, police will verify the address and process the authorization. Permission remains in effect for one year after date of submission.
City Hall encourages all property owners to consider utilizing the Trespass Enforcement Authorization Form “as a proactive measure to protect their properties and promote community well-being,” said Caitlin Gatlin, the city’s communications and marketing manager.
If a property owner does not submit a Trespass Enforcement Authorization Form to Lawton Police Dept., police cannot cite a trespasser for the misdemeanor offense until/unless the owner is present at the scene.
“This is one of the prongs of dealing with this multifaceted homeless issue,” City Manager John Ratliff said.
Lawton police has fielded numerous inquiries and complaints from residents about criminal trespassing in homes on neighboring properties.
The department logged 2,727 calls about unwanted/uninvited “guests” and trespassers last year, and 307 such calls during the first six weeks of this year, Assistant Police Chief Eric Carter told the city council last month.
Also, the Lawton Fire Department responded to 50 fires in vacant houses last year and six such fires by mid-February this year, according to the Fire Marshal.
“While the causes of those fires were undetermined, they showed evidence of previous unlawful habitation by individuals utilizing materials for warmth, light, and/or cooking,” Gatlin said. “Also, we see litter and debris in excess in multiple areas of our community, including abandoned shopping carts and encampments.”
“People breaking into those houses and starting fires are endangering neighbors,” Mayor Stan Booker said.
City officials considered ways to resolve the issue “and discovered a Trespass Authorization Form being utilized in Chula Vista, California,” Gatlin related. The advanced authorization allows homeowners who may not live in Lawton to grant the Lawton Police Department authority to cite or arrest a trespasser on the homeowner’s property.