I hate panhandlers. HATE. No one has ever gotten themselves out of poverty by begging, it is not a solution to whatever problems the person may have. But panhandling has decreased commercial traffic in areas, caused suburbanites to avoid areas, caused panhandlers to be smushed by traffic, made people uncomfortable, and pissed me off.
1) QT will give them the boot. Tell the clerks, they relish the opportunity to chase people away but can't unless a customer complains.
2) Tulsa has been discussing am updatedpanhandling ordinance for years, currently "aggressive begging" is a $200 fine.
Section 1407. - Aggressive begging prohibited.
A.
For the purpose of this section the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given herein.
1.
Beg means to stop or accost another or direct persons or animals to stop or accost another or direct persons or animals to stop or accost another, and to ask for money or other thing of value, either by words, bodily gestures, signs or other devices.
2.
Public place is an area open to the general public, including but not limited to streets, sidewalks, bridges, alleys, plazas, parks, driveways, parking lots and buildings open to the general public, and the doorways and entrances to buildings or dwellings and the grounds enclosing them.
3.
Hinder or obstruct means to walk, stand, sit or lie in such a manner as to block or attempt to block or restrict passage by another or to a require person approaching to take evasive action to avoid physical contact.
4.
Repeatedly means two (2) or more times within a period of one (1) hour.
B.
It shall be unlawful and an offense for any person to aggressively beg as defined by this section. A person is guilty of aggressive begging if he or she:
1.
Repeatedly begs in a manner that hinders or obstructs the free passage of any person in a public place; or
2.
By physical action while in the act of begging, intentionally causes or attempts to cause another person to reasonably fear imminent force or violence upon his person or upon property in his immediate possession, or commission of any criminal act upon his person or upon property in his immediate possession.
(Ord. No. 17023)
Section 1408. - Penalty.
Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, any person convicted of violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not more than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00), excluding costs, fees and assessments. Each day such violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ord. No. 19605)
https://www.municode.com/library/ok/tulsa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TUCOOR_TIT27PECO_CH14DIPE_S1407AGBEPROKC recently passed a more robust ordinance, and will be facing a challenge from the ACLU calling it protected speech (remember, the Supreme Court ruled that money is speech):
http://www.newson6.com/story/30192843/aclu-of-ok-proposed-panhandling-ordinance-is-unconstitutional3) We've been here before. A quick Google search reveals there is about 3 news story a year on the topic. We've discussed it to.
http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=5174.0http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/crimewatch/tulsa-officials-looking-to-strengthen-existing-panhandling-ordinance/article_41fa88c0-e4ca-5c08-afbd-2932177e7cf7.htmlI, for one, am in favor of doing anything possible to chase the deadbeats away. The shift changes really do make me laugh, but seeing people hand cash to these people make me want to run up and ask if I can have a few bucks too. Hell, I usually see it on my way home from work.
There has to be thousands of beggers around town. Take into account all the intersections you see them at and multiply that by the shift changes, and I'm positive it surpasses the number of homeless.
Irrational anger? Maybe.
To answer the original question - sitting by the road with some lame sign and passively asking for cash is probably not against any law in Tulsa.
