MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Monongalia County officials will continue planning meetings that are expected to result in a comprehensive panhandling ordinance.
Commission President Tom Bloom said he believes controlling panhandling will cause other criminal activity to drop.
“There are numerous problems we’re facing and we have to start somewhere,” Bloom said Tuesday on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.” “This is one area that has an affect on five or six of the major problems.”
Bloom said there have been several reports of panhandlers who are not homeless and take advantage of the good nature of others. Most residents have supported a local non-profit with their cash or by volunteering, in addition to giving a few dollars to seemingly homeless people in parts of the city.
“I want the people to know that if they say they want to give to these people, you already have,” Bloom said. “Whether it’s the United Way, a non-profit, or you pay taxes, we have $1.1 million worth of non-profit programs to help these individuals.”
The proposed ordinance would require officer to inform panhandlers about available services. It will have graduated penalties, with the possibility of jail time after the third offense.
“The reason why we’re looking at (jail time) for those individuals is they are going to take the ticket and throw it away,” Bloom said.
The ordinance is also expected to contain language making it unlawful to occupy the median of the highway.
Many panhandlers are suspected of having homes and nice cars and opting to work alongside roadways because it is easier. Other unconfirmed reports indicate panhandlers refuse legitimate employment offers because they can’t take in what they would from the public.
“We need to do a better job of keeping statistics on who we’re helping, where they’re from, and whether our programs are working,” Bloom said.
The ordinance is modeled after and ordinance in Henrico, Virginia that has withstood some court challenges using the “captive audience doctrine” legal theory. The theory protects people in certain circumstances from unwanted speech, similar to being forced to deal with a panhandler while sitting in traffic.
“Because of the road, you can’t leave, so you’re subject to that individual,” Bloom said. “That is not covered under freedom of speech.”
Bloom said the county and all four municipalities will meet every six months as the ordinance takes shape.