An ordinance that would penalize side-of-the road panhandling in Monongalia County is set to be presented to the public.
Monongalia County Commission President Tom Bloom announced that a long-discussed proposal that would make panhandling by major roadways illegal will be introduced at the commission’s regular meeting scheduled for July 12. The ordinance will focus on several aspects of roadside panhandling that would also affect those who give money in the process. This comes after months of discussions with the commission, legal experts, and members of the community.
“As we looked through it and went through the constitutionality of it, the problem is that it’s a safety issue,” said Bloom on the purpose of the ordinance. “Whether it’s the person standing in the middle of the road or whether the person is driving up, stopping their car, and handing them something,” he said.
The panhandling measure has undergone several reviews ahead of its formal introduction and states that penalties will also be in place for anyone caught giving money to roadside panhandlers. On WAJR’s Talk of the Town, Bloom stated that the ordinance will take a two-prong approach to address panhandling concerns that have stemmed from interactions that have caused traffic accidents and general disruptions during heavy driving hours. The hope is that by disenfranchising both panhandling and giving money, interactions will significantly decrease.
“It makes it very simple now that when people say, Well, why don’t I stop and give them some money or something like that? hopefully, if this passes, it will be illegal to do that,” said Bloom. “So therefore, that would solve some of the problems,” he said.
For Bloom and the rest of the Monongalia County Commission, safety is the main priority for the proposed county panhandling ordinance. Discussions with county residents, municipalities, and business owners have led to reports of panhandling incidents that have bordered on harassment and have either used children as part of their panhandling activities or targeted children to ask for money. This has led to near-misses with vehicles, which in turn has resulted in a roadside-focused emphasis on what would be considered illegal panhandling if the measure passes.
“There has been a real increase of complaints from parents of younger children, specifically female, who have been calling saying they’re nervous and they’re concerned, then they get flustered,” said Bloom on what he’s heard from residents. “So it becomes a safety factor for everyone involved,” he said.
Once the proposal is formally presented, a public hearing will be held by the commission to address any concerns about the parameters of any penalties or limitations. Bloom states that the ordinance will not be limited to just atypical panhandlers but to anyone who is asking for financial donations on the roadside (i.e., charities, recreational groups) and those donating financially. The hope is that if the ordinance passes, major Monongalia County intersections will be safer for both motorists and pedestrians in an area with a growing population.
“It’s really not just them; it’s anyone; we do not want to have people in the middle of the intersection,” said Bloom.