The Toledo City Council is considering an ordinance to put more restrictions on panhandling.

The proposal, submitted by Councilman D. Michael Collins, is modeled after a recent one passed in Cincinnati. It restricts areas, such as bus stops, crosswalks and public and commercial properties.

The ordinance states that all attempts to request goods or money from a stranger is prohibited. However, it still does allow those who remain “passively standing or sitting with a sign” as long as they do not verbally initiate any requests. It also places time restrictions on any form of panhandling to be limited from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except while Daylight Savings Time is in effect, which restricts panhandling from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“The previous law was just a general prohibition, the law has matured over the past several decades,” Director of Law Adam Loukx said. “Hopefully this improvement will meet the needs of the citizens and at the same time recognize that people do have a constitutional right to solicit as long as it doesn’t violate the time, place and manner restrictions that we have put.”

The ordinance will be included in the Agenda Review on Aug. 16 and will be voted on by council on Aug. 30.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 8th, 2011 at 8:50 pm and is filed under City of Toledo, Government.
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