Panhandling Enforcement Efforts

Transcription

1 Panhandling Enforcement Efforts Presented by Robert A. Alldredge, Captain, Police Laetitia Brown, Senior Assistant City Attorney June 14, 2016

2 State Law on Soliciting Contributions in the Roadways Cities can adopt a total ban or allow solicitation of charitable contributions: A person may not stand in a roadway to solicit a ride, contribution, employment, or business from an occupant of a vehicle, except that a person may stand in a roadway to solicit a charitable contribution if authorized to do so by the local authority having jurisdiction over the roadway. Charitable contribution is defined as a contribution to an organization defined as charitable by the standards of the IRS. Section of the Texas Transportation Code, adopted in 2017, requires a city to allow solicitation in the roadway if the person is an employee or agent of the city.

3 City Ordinance Allows solicitation of contributions once a year for two days at certain intersections with a permit. Streets contained in ordinance were selected by the Safety and Community Development Committee Council Committee in 2001 Requirements for permit: Must be 18 years of age or older; May not impede traffic at any time; Must enter or remain in a roadway, street or thoroughfare only while the controlling traffic signal prohibits vehicular movement; Must remain within 100 feet of or from the intersection approved under the permit; Must have required insurance coverage; Must wear a city approved florescent orange or yellow vest at all times while soliciting

4 Prohibited Streets/Intersections 7th Street and Henderson Street Altamesa Boulevard and Westcreek Drive Berry Street and Bishop Street Camp Bowie Blvd. and Horne Street Commerce St. and East Weatherford St. Granbury Road and South Hulen Street Highway 170 and Independence Pkwy. Highway 80 and Alta Mere Drive Hulen Street and Oakmont Street Interstate 30 and Beach Street Interstate 30 and Hulen Street Interstate 35 West and East Everman Pkwy Interstate 35 West and East Rosedale St. Interstate 35 West and East Allen Avenue Interstate 35 West and N.E. 28th Street Interstate 35 West and Western Center Blvd. Lancaster Avenue and Jennings Avenue Altamesa Boulevard and McCart Avenue Belknap and N. Henderson Calmont Avenue and Alta Mere Drive Clinton Avenue and N.W. 25th Street East Lancaster and Main Street Hemphill Street and West Rosedale Street Highway 360 and Trinity Boulevard Houston Street and West 4th Street Interstate 30 and Ashland Avenue Interstate 30 and Eastchase Pkwy. Interstate 35 West and Altamesa Blvd. Interstate 35 West and East Hattie Street Interstate 35 West and East Seminary Drive Interstate 35 West and Golden Triangle Blvd. Interstate 35 West and Sycamore School Road Interstate Highway 35 West SR and East Berry Street Lancaster Avenue and Riverside Drive 4

5 Prohibited Streets/Intersections (cont.) Montgomery Street and Lovell Avenue N.E. 28th Street and Decatur Avenue N.E. Loop 820 and Mark IV Parkway N.W. 28th Street and Clinton Avenue Riverside Drive and East Berry Street Rosedale Street and South Beach Street S.W. Loop 820 and Crowley Road S.W. Loop 820 and McCart Avenue Seminary Drive and Hemphill Street Southwest Boulevard SR and Bryant Irvin Road University Drive and West Rosedale Street Western Center Boulevard and North Beach Street Western Center Boulevard and North Riverside Drive N.E. 28th Street and Commerce Street N.E. 28th Street and North Main Street N.E. Loop 820 and North Beach Street North Main Street and Long Street Rosedale Street and Forest Park Boulevard S.W. Loop 820 and Bryant Irvin Road S.W. Loop 820 and Granbury Road S.W. Loop 820 and South Hulen Street Seminary Drive and McCart Avenue Throckmorton Street and West 7th Street West Rosedale Street and 8th Avenue 5

6 Panhandling Calls for Service Comparison 35% increase in panhandling calls between January- March % increased enforcement (citations/arrest) during the same time period 6

7 Accountability and Efficiency Measures January 2016, patrol reorganized and adopted a beat concept Officers are responsible for smaller geographical areas Allows officers to take ownership and be accountable for their assigned beat February 2016, created a specific dispatch call sign to accurately track panhandling issues 7

8 Proactive Efforts to Address Created an educational panhandling pamphlet to be distributed Panhandlers Business owners Citizens Visitors Panhandling 3 step approach for dealing with panhandling Deterrence through education Issuing citations when education efforts fail Last resort, custodial arrest 8

9 Staff Recommendation Rely solely on State law to ban panhandling in Fort Worth and Texas Transportation Code Repeal City Ordinance

10 Panhandling Enforcement Efforts Questions/Comments/Conclusion