'Handouts don't help' New signs target Colorado Springs homeless

[DrDog]

Originally Posted by TCHP

This give me an interesting thought....

Don't punish people willing to help. Hold those gaining the money accountable. The ACLU has pushed the issue in court to extrapolate our anti-panhandling laws to be an abridgement of free speech and preventing people from working within their chosen field, ie, panhandling. Instead of issuing citations to people giving them money, why don't we mandate a permit or license to panhandle? Here is my logic, if I use the city streets to run my business, like a hot dog stand, t-shirt vendor, selling sunglasses, etc, I have to get a business permit from the city. If I attend a swap meet, flea market, or other temporary sales function, I have to get a permit. I have to report my income from these activities I generated on public or private property. So, using that logic, why should vagrants be any different. They are employed in their field in public space and in doing so are gaining with unreported income.

Yes, I know it will be difficult to enforce, everything here is. But it is a foundation to build from. It does not abridge their free speech. It allows anyone to do the solicitation. It holds them accountable and that accountability means that like all independent business owners, one must be in complaicne with rules and regulations and manage their income stream and report on it. Failure to do so is now a violation of multiple laws. No license, your are in violation, here's your citation. Did you report your income? The IRS has an issue. Defecating or shooting up in public, that's hazardous waste, here's your fine. Multiple time offenders, hit the road or live in a cell.

Great idea. Make it happen.

[mtngigi]

Originally Posted by TCHP

This give me an interesting thought....

Don't punish people willing to help. Hold those gaining the money accountable. The ACLU has pushed the issue in court to extrapolate our anti-panhandling laws to be an abridgement of free speech and preventing people from working within their chosen field, ie, panhandling. Instead of issuing citations to people giving them money, why don't we mandate a permit or license to panhandle? Here is my logic, if I use the city streets to run my business, like a hot dog stand, t-shirt vendor, selling sunglasses, etc, I have to get a business permit from the city. If I attend a swap meet, flea market, or other temporary sales function, I have to get a permit. I have to report my income from these activities I generated on public or private property. So, using that logic, why should vagrants be any different. They are employed in their field in public space and in doing so are gaining with unreported income.

Yes, I know it will be difficult to enforce, everything here is. But it is a foundation to build from. It does not abridge their free speech. It allows anyone to do the solicitation. It holds them accountable and that accountability means that like all independent business owners, one must be in compliance with rules and regulations and manage their income stream and report on it. Failure to do so is now a violation of multiple laws. No license, your are in violation, here's your citation. Did you report your income? The IRS has an issue. Defecating or shooting up in public, that's hazardous waste, here's your fine. Multiple time offenders, hit the road or live in a cell.

And add to that the camping issue. Can you or I go camping anywhere we please, building campfires despite state-wide fire bans? Nope.

It is a great idea - but enforcing it ... I don't know.

[ryanek9freak]

Originally Posted by DrDog

Great idea. Make it happen.

They actually do that in Las Vegas, you need a pan handling permit lol