A new law in Las Vegas bans feeding the homeless at city parks.

Unanimously passed by the Las Vegas City Council, the ordinance brings a maximum penalty of $1,000 and six months in jail for those who break it.

Initially, some questioned how police will know who is homeless, prompting Las Vegas Mayor, Oscar Goodman, to quip, "Certain truths are self-evident... You know who's homeless."

City leaders say the ban is aimed at stopping "mobile soup kitchens" which operate at city parks, becoming a haven for the indigent.

Opponents of the ban, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) say it is simply another attempt to cover up the social problems affecting the city.

ACLU attorney Allen Lichtenstein, tells the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "So, the only people who get to eat are those who have enough money? Those who get (government) assistance can't eat at your picnic? I've heard of some rather strange and extreme measures from other cities. I've never heard of something like this. It's mind-boggling."