[beartrack]

About a year ago I noticed one young, very unkept young man, begging for money at the intersection of Rt 41 and Rt 42. I may be a bad person but, I do not believe that folks should be allowed to beg in the middle of a very dangerous intersection. While my heart goes out to those in need, I do not think that the middle of the street walking from car to car with traffic whizzing by is the safest envirement for those people. There are churches and synagogues all around that offer help. Now there are six to eight people at a time covering all four corners. I've seen them drive up in cars and park at the gas station. I've also seen them get out of a van. They are also out in the street in front of Walmart and also Home depot. This situation in my opinion is getting out of hand and someone is going to get hurt. What I would like to know is, is it legal for these folks to do this? If it is legal, I still believe that it is dangerous and law enforcement should at least check these people out, to see if their situation is legit or a scam.

[pooh]

A number of years ago, a television station in San Diego did a piece on "beggars" at intersections. We were living on the west coast at the time. Seems there was a group of individuals, working a particular area. There were assigned times for begging for each person, they were driven to their "work" area. Apparently there was enough money being made for these people to continue.

It is dangerous to be working in high traffic areas. How do we know these people are truly in need of help? We don't. Notice if it's the same person in one spot. Notice if they're wearing the same clothes each day, notice if they're shaved and washed. Often times, it's as you've observed, individuals being driven to an area to try and get funds from sympathetic drivers. Is it legal? I don't know. Is it dangerous? Without a doubt, for those asking for funds and for those who might stop, disrupting the flow of traffic.

[pqrstar]

In Marion County, FL, in Aug. 2008, a homeless man was awarded $10,000 in damages because the county panhandling ordinance violated his right of free speech.

"Booher v. Marion County, No. 5:07-CV-282-Oc-10GRT (M.D. Fla. filed July 11, 2007).
David Booher, a homeless individual living in Marion County, has sued the county challenging the constitutionality of a county ordinance adopted in May 2006, which requires all persons who solicit, beg or panhandle in public places without obtaining a "panhandler's license."[8] In order to obtain such a license, an individual must pay a $100 application fee, pass a background check regarding panhandling violations and types of felonies or misdemeanors and complete an application (which includes a requirement that a permanent home address and description of the location and timing of solicitation activity be provided). Further, in deciding whether to grant the license, the county administrator must find that "the location and time of the [panhandling] activity will not substantially interfere with the safe and orderly movement of traffic."[9]

Following the adoption of the ordinance, plaintiff Booher was repeatedly arrested, fined and sentenced to jail in violation of the ordinance. In response, Booher filed suit against the county seeking compensatory damages and to enjoin the enforcement of the ordinance, based on claims that the ordinance violates his right to free speech, due process and equal protection. In September 2007, the court granted Booher's motion for a preliminary injunction prohibiting the county from enforcing the ordinance during the pendency of the action. In granting the injunction, the court found that there is a substantial likelihood that the ordinance is an unlawful prior restraint on speech, is a content based restriction on speech, violates the Equal Protection Clause by impermissibly distinguishing between who can and cannot engage in charitable solicitation and is overbroad and void for vagueness by failing to sufficiently define prohibited conduct and providing the county administrator with excess discretion.

After Booher had filed a motion for partial summary judgment and a permanent
injunction, the county repealed the ordinance. In August 2008, the parties submitted a settlement agreement. The county agreed not to reenact the challenged version of the ordinance and to pay Booher $10,000 for settlement of his damages claims. Defendants agreed that Booher was the prevailing party in the action and to pay reasonable litigation costs and attorneys’ fees."

[Ooper]

Where is Rt. 41 and Rt. 42? Do you mean Rt. 441 and 42?

I saw about 7 people panhandling near the WalMart on US 441/27 a few days ago. There were a couple on the median in the middle of the highway targeting drivers turning into the CVS or other stores across from the WalMart. Then there were 4 or so near the CVS getting people crossing to Walmart or waiting to turn south. The last was a 25 to 35 year old looking woman in shorts near the Sonic.


Believe it is illegal for minors to panhandle. I have never seen one anywhere in Florida nor in CA.

[tony]

I ran across a guy on an interstate ramp not far from my house with a sign that said:

"Please HELP!!!
Homeless and Stranded."

When he got to my car I asked how he could be stranded if he were homeless.

I took that ramp every day, and he was there for about ten more days, but he never stopped at my car again.

[Larryandlinda]

Originally Posted by beartrack

About a year ago I noticed one young, very unkept young man, begging for money at the intersection of Rt 41 and Rt 42. I may be a bad person but, I do not believe that folks should be allowed to beg in the middle of a very dangerous intersection. While my heart goes out to those in need, I do not think that the middle of the street walking from car to car with traffic whizzing by is the safest envirement for those people. There are churches and synagogues all around that offer help. Now there are six to eight people at a time covering all four corners. I've seen them drive up in cars and park at the gas station. I've also seen them get out of a van. They are also out in the street in front of Walmart and also Home depot. This situation in my opinion is getting out of hand and someone is going to get hurt. What I would like to know is, is it legal for these folks to do this? If it is legal, I still believe that it is dangerous and law enforcement should at least check these people out, to see if their situation is legit or a scam.

A newer twist is 'stranded' people highway rest stops.
Families, older women, as well as the typical younger/mid-age men are involved.

For over 50 years we have tried to give food to those claiming to be hungry,
(even ordering fine meals to go from restaurants where we were eating).

At our retail shops, we get wanderers begging, 'stranded' or otherwise.
We have gasoline handy, and have offered day work to anyone willing.

It has rarely worked.

Plain and simple, begging is often the job, why work?

Is it dangerous for the panhandlers to walk among the lanes?
sure, but safer than the way heavy senior in Baltimore who regularly ties up traffic rolling among the traffic lanes on busy MLK near the Stadiums. Near misses are common.

While we hope we don't see wreaths on the corner, this is dangerous.

Yes, there's plenty of work, guidance, and counseling and these folk should take advantage of it

L and L

[l2ridehd]

There is only one reason they are there. Because it works. I refuse to support this type of panhandling, but do give generously to the Salvation Army. As long as people keep giving them money, they will be there.

[otherbruddaDarrell]

A couple weeks ago I seen a woman on 441 by Mcdonalds panhandling. Her sign said she was an out of work CNA with kids.
My first thought was if she can't find a job around here then substance abuse or criminal history must be a leading factor.
I also have noticed that when the snowbirds return that there are more beggars at the intersections.

[Lou Card]

I drove up and down 14th street through Washington DC for 6 years. There was one begger that was there on the same corner only in the morning, but at about 6:30 am when I went thru, he was more reliable than my workers. He only had a very small sign that said HELP PLEASE. For six years, every morning, and I would see maybe one out of every 5 or 6 cars had him something. Never a bag of food or a blanket, but hand to hand most likely change. Lights changed at about 3 minute intervals. Figure if he only got 50 Cents in Change per donation, 20 times per hour, thats 10.00 dollars tax free per hour. I feel it was probably a lot more than 10 dollars. Why work for min wage with that kind of take for just standing up with your hand out.

[MelZ]

A few years ago I was approached by a young man across from Penn Station in NYC. He said he was hungry and hadn't eaten in a day.

I bought him a hot dog which he proceeded to try to sell.

Don't give to give in to them, the only job their interested in is ...........

PANHANDLING

I donate to reputable charities instead

[graciegirl]

I think that most of us would be amazed to know how much money they take in begging.

[iandwk]

I have read articles about this being a business, with the panhandlers pulling in as much as $2000 per week. Nice work if you can get it. I never made that much when I was working for a living.

There used to be a group in eastern Kentucky that had a computerized system of hitting up churches on Sunday mornings. They were networked all over the area and even down into Tennessee so the same carload of filthy children and adults in their beat-up old cars wouldn't hit the same church twice. They were making a lot of money. Our local sheriff told me to start sending them to him, that he had funds for people with legitimate needs like that. The next Sunday a family came to our church and I told the man to wait and I would call the sheriff because he could help them. They burned rubber getting out of the parking lot. We never got another visit from any of them. I guess their computer network x'ed us out.

[nONIE]

It seems there are always "will work for food" People by the Walmart on 44l. Last winter one of them had a tiny chichuahua puppy with him that looked emaciated. Thats where my resistance gave in . I went into Walmart and bought it enough dog food to last for a long long time , I tried to resist giving the beggar money bought thought "ten dollars isnt going to kill me".

Guess I must learn to be alot tougher in these situations but I know if theres an animal involved I will never be strong!

[graciegirl]

Dearest Nonie,

That doesn't surprise me. You have the kindest heart.