SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Sacramento County supervisors have unanimously voted to ban aggressive panhandling in response to complaints from suburban business leaders and residents.
The Sacramento Bee reported Thursday (https://bit.ly/1iUZhu8 ) that the 5-0 vote came after little discussion and testimony from several supporters and no opposition.
The ordinance would prohibit panhandling in areas where people being solicited feel “vulnerable to crime, intimidation and coercion” - including medians, banks, ATMs and gas stations. Violations would be cited as an infraction, with three infractions in six months resulting in a misdemeanor charge.
A final vote on the rule will take place May 13, and it will likely go into effect in June.
The newspaper says the unincorporated area is the only part of Sacramento County without panhandling restrictions. Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Sacramento and other cities have similar ordinances restricting the activity.
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Information from: The Sacramento Bee, https://www.sacbee.com
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