Police: More people living in cars at Aspen park-and-ride

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) -- Authorities say they are seeing more transients living in cars at a park-and-ride in this tony resort town.

Pitkin County sheriff's deputy Jesse Steindler tells the Aspen Times that people who sleep in their cars at the Intercept Lot have historically been temporary workers who come to Aspen and stay for a week. But now, he says, deputies are seeing more transients.

Deputy Ryan Turner says an ordinance prohibiting overnight sleeping in public areas would help prevent problems. Deputies in October arrested a man for assault after he used a hatchet to threaten a group of men sleeping in another car at the lot.

The man, 34-year-old Justin Schaaf, told the newspaper he was staying in the lot because he couldn't afford to live in Aspen. He says the attack was self-defense.