Panhandling update: do our police know the safe streets act
It seems that In London, police actually know the safe streets act and issue tickets accordingly.
http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/06/07/18251581.html
Now before we get all, “your picking on the poor panhandlers again” Remember in most U.S. states the use the same distracted driving laws they do for texting while driving and issue tickets to anyone giving moneys to panhandlers while driving. Kinda makes sense, if you can’t text while driving, what makes you think you can engage a pedestrian on the sidewalk while driving.
“It’s a public safety issue . . . and it’s a nuisance issue, too,” says Sgt. Tyler Cowan, of the police department’s community-oriented response unit.
Soliciting motorists is punishable by a $65 fine under Ontario’s Safe Streets Act.
Panhandling itself isn’t illegal, except when done aggressively or in certain areas, such as near bank machines, pay phones or bathrooms.
But it is against the law for anyone to approach a vehicle and ask for money.
While some panhandlers get only a warning, officers are instructed to ticket anyone asking drivers for money, Cowan says.
Repeat offenders can be hauled before a justice of the peace, risking up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
“If it’s somebody that we’ve dealt with time and time again, then we’ll summons them for court,” Cowan says.
Post Feedback
Mark,
One has to consider the other group of citizens who regularly ‘panhandle’ at busy Windsor intersections. This group is known as the Goodfellows.
Don’t get incensed by my use of the word “panhandle”. Panhandling by legal definition is “asking for money on the street”.
As each Christmas season approaches scores of Windsor busy intersections are manned by volunteers who approach drivers for money in exchange for their newsletter.
Is fundraising an acceptable excuse for asking motorists at busy intersections for money?
Should these volunteers be fined $65 under the Ontario Safe Streets Act?
Is this a double standard if they are exempted?
I applaud the good work of the Goodfellows, however, I have often seen drivers get angry about this fundraising event.
Motorists have taken to purchase a copy, which is displayed in the front window of their vehicle to discourage the volunteers from approaching them again.
Drivers are most certainly distracted when they have to point in the direction of the displayed newsletter to get the attention of the volunteer.
While this is a seasonal event, one really has to wonder at acceptance of this type of double standard.
What would happen if the Windsor Police are forced to issue the tickets?
Will the Windsor Police ignore this other violation of the Ontario Safe Streets Act?
I do grow weary of double standards.
If the Windsor Police are urged to ticket the roadside panhandlers, then they will be obliged to ticket the Goodfellows volunteers.
Won’t we have a fine mess then?
I think london and toronto may be going too far
However 2 points being that
1. this is the kind of “overkill” we might get if we ignore and dismiss business and publivs concerns. That some of what i feel are minor proposals may avt as a pressure release valve diffusing the situation before more radical measures are proposed
2. My concerns are not isolated, it looks like many canadoan cities r dealing with this issue and id like Windsor to deal with it responsibly