Alexandria is considering easing its panhandling restrictions on Saturday. And Fairfax County is going to look at solutions to panhandling in an unusual way — by talking with the panhandlers.
The Alexandria City Council holds a public hearing and will vote on whether to repeal the city’s restrictions on panhandling. The change has been suggested in order to align with First Amendment case law and to ensure the city is not discriminating against the panhandlers.
While the restrictions would be repealed, some of the actions of panhandlers could still be considered misdemeandors. According to a summary on the proposed change: “In other sections of the City Code, there are functional equivalents to many of the restrictions delineated in the existing panhandling ordinance that are broadly applicable to all speakers, rather than just panhandlers.”
Surveying Panhandlers in Fairfax County
In Fairfax County, the Board of Supervisors late last month voted to allocate $75,000 in leftover money, known as carryover funds, to commission a survey of people who panhandle at intersections.
The survey will determine why respondents panhandle, their demographic data, their work experience, whether they’re homeless, whether they’re being coerced and more, Fairfax Now reported.
The funding was requested by Chairman Jeff McKay.
The survey comes after the latest attempt to curb panhandling at intersections, led by Supervisor Pat Herrity, who has been leading such efforts for several years. His proposals have included a request to reinstate jaywalking as a primary offense. In 2021, Virginia law made it a secondary offense, meaning it can be charged if someone is being charged with something else as well, but it can’t be the only reason to charge or detain someone.
Herrity and his allies say that panhandling leads to collisions and crime; last year, a report by Deputy County Executive Thomas Arnold found “staff cannot draw a firm conclusion that panhandling contributes to number of vehicular collisions.”
While panhandling is protected under the First Amendment, Fairfax County discourages people from giving money to panhandlers who often need more resources to help them than spare change.
It’s not known when the survey will be conducted; it’s expected to take about six months, Fairfax Now reported.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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