Palm Beach County commissioners pass ordinance on panhandling

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - For over 10 years Palm Beach County commissioners have gone back and forth on how to solve the problem of panhandling.

They're hoping public awareness will jump start the process and have passed a new ordinance aimed at aggressive panhandlers.

The new ordinance is an effort to crackdown on pushy panhandlers who come up to cars banging on the window in efforts to get cash.

They say by focusing on the aggressive panhandlers they'll save money, time and be able to prosecute those who are guiilty.

County commissioners passed the ordinance by a 5 to 2 vote.

"With aggressive panhandling there's some overt acts like touching, blocking...," says Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.

In the past, officers arrested anyone caught obstructing traffic but sheriff Bradshaw ways that was costing $30,000 a year.

"Tha'ts a bunch of money for something that not solving the problem," he says.

"They only hold you over night so you're just right back on the street doing the same thing so it's not like it helps," says panhandler Isaac Rhoades.

It's people like Rhoades, who says he makes $20 a day from panhandling, the county no longer wants to see on the streets.

"Gotta make a little extra cash gotta survive," says Rhoades.

Commissioners say panhandlers over the years have gotten more aggressive in their begging and it's time to step up law enforcement to bring it to an end.

"I was riding, again these people were in the middle of the road knocking on windows," says commissioner Priscilla Taylor.

But members of the homeless coalition chimed in saying arresting panhandlers is ignoring the real problem in Palm Beach County.

"It's not solving the issues of homelessness it's curing the inconvenience of having to see someone homeless," says homeless advocate Jordan Hunt.

While the ordinance of aggressive panhandling is a big focus, commissioners unanimously agreed that public awareness is the most important tool. Bradshaw says if people stop handing out money panhandlers will slowly but surely disappear.

"If youre' not getting the money, you're not going to be there it's that simple, if the public awareness campaign works where we get people to give the money to legitimate organization to help the people," Bradshaw said.

Bradshaw says the sheriff's office will work with the county to produce a 30 second public service announcement. The county also agreed to put up signs against panhandling-- a tactic they used 12 years ago-- and will try public education as a strategy. And in six months they will meet once again to see if it's working.