Michigan Lawmakers Cracking Down On “Aggressive Panhandlers”
You've seen them throughout the Lansing area--Cedar Street, Lake Lansing Road, Frandor, downtown Lansing, just to name a few places--and now Michigan lawmakers are taking another look at what they call "aggressive panhandlers". According to the Detroit News, earlier this week lawmakers gave the go-ahead on a bill in the House Criminal Justice committee to crack down on the aggressive panhandlers.
Under the current language, aggressive begging in public could lead to civil fines of up to $100. The legislation would forbid begging for money near banks and ATM machines. It would also forbid threatening or offensive language and gestures and would require a panhandler to stop soliciting after being told "no". The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan is challenging the bill, saying poor people have every right to solicit on public property. The bill now heads to the House floor for a vote. Stay tuned...
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