Panhandling Prior To The Ban

Last year an interview between Ryan Warner and Mark Silverstein was conducted and published by CPR. The interview discussed the panhandling ordnances in Northern Colorado. Prior to the ban being overturned; The American Civil liberties Union of Colorado found the ban to be in violation of our First Amendment. In trying to regulate panhandling the cities found that there was an appropriate time and place; when panhandling could occur with out the overwhelming fear for ones safety. The interview went on and brought up the possible punishments for violating the panhandling ban. One of the cities in northern Colorado was found to be violating one of the panhandling ordinances. They cited people for aggressive panhandling while they did nothing, but hold up a sign. The city attorney issued a two paged bulletin to police; trying to cease the writing of citations for one of the ordinances. The city’s prosecutor worked on dismissing some of the convictions. Mark Silver continued by stating that our resources should be more geared towards housing and other services for the homeless and poverty stricken.

While reading/listening to this source I have found a few things that were shocking. What I found the most shocking was that fact that it’s a misdemeanor that is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,500. The second thing that I found shocking was the police were enforcing the panhandling regulations against people that didn’t violate any laws.  

The interview left me with some questions.

• The ban is protected under out first amendment, why are the punishments so harsh?
• What if the panhandlers don’t want the services that ACLA wants to gear towards them?
• Why were the police so aggressive if they were only holding up signs?