Panhandling Restrictions Approved In Larimer County
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4)- It will soon be against the law to ask for money along the street or in parking lots in Larimer County.
Larimer County Commissioners passed panhandling restrictions on Tuesday.
The ban takes effect on Jan. 1, 2013.
The fine is up to $1,000.
The Salvation Army is concerned because the move would also ban bell ringing which is how the organization raises a lot of money during the holiday season.
Larimer County Commissioners said bell ringers usually operate in towns and not in unincorporated parts of the county.
The ban comes after a similar ban was approved in Colorado Springs.
The new ordinance bans panhandling on medians, along highways and in an aggressive manner, and from repeatedly asking for donations after someone denies their request.
The ordinance also mandates that panhandlers can still ask for money or jobs on public sidewalks, but they cannot block the sidewalk.
They also can not ask for money or jobs in parking lots, along federal or state highways including on and off ramps or in medians.
