Do You Have A Permit To Charge That Phone?

Courthouse Square is Santa Rosa's most visited WI-FI Hotspot given to the public free of charge. There are several electrical outlets here that many people use during the day to network among each other socially. However if you're homeless, you must obtain a permit or be charged with "theft of city utilities".

I was recently using one of the outlets to simply charge my cell phone when a bike cop approached and told me that I needed a permit to do so.

I then went to City Hall to inquire about such a permit, and was told that none exist.