Cities Adopting Tougher Stances Against Panhandling

Municipalities are making arrests under 'aggressive panhandling' laws despite freedom of speech concerns.

1 minute read

June 23, 2005, 7:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Thirteen years after the courts struck down New York's draconian antipanhandling laws, the age-old issue of how to deal with the lowest rungs of the American economy is once again at the top of municipal agendas as lawmakers focus anew on freeloaders, flimflam men, and "unsolicited service providers," who pretend to be tour guides. To get around First Amendment protections, cities across the country are prosecuting new "aggressive panhandling" rules that focus on public safety and the greater economic good, all in order to deal with the No. 1 visitor complaint to American urban areas: too many people scrounging for change."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Wednesday, June 22, 2005 in The Christian Science Monitor

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