UPDATE: Sarasota to Curb Panhandling; Do You Agree?

UPDATE, Monday, 11 p.m.: Sarasota city commissioners plan to fast track a proposed ordinance that would curb panhandling on Sarasota streets.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports that the City Commission reviewed a proposed rule Monday night that requires two separate votes to be adopted.

City leaders agreed to vote on the ordinance at a special meeting next week.

City leaders also were warned that they cannot ban panhandling. Instead, City Attorney Bob Fournier said, they can only regulate panhandling as a safety issue, since it is protected as a constitutional right.

The proposed rule would make it illegal for safety reasons for drivers and solicitors standing in roadways to hand each other money, leaflets or pamphlets. People also would be forbidden from standing in roads or medians with placards or advertising signs.

Meanwhile, 350 people have signed a petition demanding that the city make it illegal to solicit people for money on Sarasota streets, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports. The petition was started by a Sarasota Realtor.

(Do you agree with the efforts? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.)

ORIGINAL POST:

On Monday, Sarasota officials are expected to review proposed new rules for keeping panhandlers off city streets, according to the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Sarasota officials say that there has been a rise in the number of panhandlers since a judge lifted a law that makes it illegal to solicit people for money on Sarasota's streets, according to the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

But that temporary injunction is set to end, and the city is preparing to modify  its local ordinance to withstand legal challenges.

The City Commission will take up the issue when it re-convenes at 6 p.m. Monday, April 15.

Here is the agenda item:

XII.A.4. Public Hearing Re: Proposed Ordinance No. 13-5060, amending Chapter 23 of the City Code to add a new Section 23-1 to be entitled "Solicitation and Distribution on Public Roads"; providing that no person shall go upon or alongside a public road to solicit or attempt to solicit donations, contributions, employment, business, sales or exchanges from occupants of motor vehicles; providing that no person shall go upon or alongside a public road to distribute or attempt to distribute products or materials to occupants of motor vehicles; and further providing that no person shall go upon a public road to display advertising of any kind; all as more fully set forth herein; amending Section 23-7 to delete language therein which conflicts with this ordinance; making findings; providing for a statement of intent; defining specified terms; providing for severability; repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith, etc. (Title Only) - Presenter(s): City Attorney Fournier

The American Civil Leaders Union is warning that the proposed changes may not be constitutional.

Meanwhile, even the veteran panhandlers say they notice greater numbers of people holding up signs and asking for money.

According to the Sarasota Herald Tribune:

There used to be a half-dozen people who frequently held up signs to passing cars in Sarasota, said Seann Manning, who is homeless. “Now they're on every street corner,” he said.

On the website forum, City Data, there is a thread about the "Panhandling Situation in Florida." A commmenter named Ladywithafan wrote:

"You can find our panhandlers in the median of the Ringling Causeway/41 (especially popular on Sat/Sun as traffic heads to Lido on beach days; in fact, there are numerous people using this corner & are starting to get territorial as well, Univerisity and 301, Bee Ridge & 41, University & 41, actually University from 41 to Lakewood Ranch border seems pretty popular....these are routes I have observed while driving to and from work as well as the beach. Some of these people are dressed nicely & some not so much. I'm in the office 8 hours a day Mon-Fri so I don't have any more info during that time of day."

For the latest Sarasota news, get the Patch newsletter free in your email each morning.