Florida ordinance targets people who give

[THE MATRIX]

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Reporting from Oakland Park, Fla.

Dare to buy red roses or a newspaper from a street vendor, and soon you could be breaking the law.

At least in Oakland Park, Fla.

Citing traffic safety concerns, officials in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of 42,000 tentatively approved an ordinance targeting not only panhandlers and peddlers, but the people who give to them or buy something from them.

Under the ordinance initially passed last month, anyone who responds to a beggar with money or any "article of value" or buys flowers or a newspaper from someone on the street would face a fine of $50 to $100 and as many as 90 days in jail.

[Farmer77]

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Wow thats um horrible

[conspiracybeliever]

So it's against the law to help people. Should have seen this one coming.

[ohio traveler]

There are places and organizations that these people can go to to get help and assistance. Looking for handouts along the roadside is unsafe to traffic and should be illegal. Many beggars are nothing but scam artists anyway.

[The Silver Thong]

Well I think this was probably put in place because to many old people were gettin ripped off. Or to many people where using the hand out to buy oxycotton or something. However telling people what to do with there loose change is rather silly.

[supervike]

So, the cops CANNOT enforce the no panhandling law, but they think they CAN enforce people giving money to them?

Er......

[conspiracybeliever]

So, the cops CANNOT enforce the no panhandling law, but they think they CAN enforce people giving money to them?

Er......

Good point.

[randym23]

i could see not giving them cash but a coffee and a sandwich? just proves that politicians are a bunch of sociopaths....

[danielost]

kind of reminds me of the quadiped in las vegas. he goes out everyday panhandling. every now and then some officer will arrest him. he is held until the judge dismisses it which they do everytime. but in the mean time the officer/s have taken the money he had collected up to that point.