Daytona Commissioners To Vote On Panhandling Ordinance

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Daytona Beach, FL - The long-awaited ordinance meant to solve Daytona Beach's panhandling issues and make it a cleaner and safer city for tourists and residents goes in front of the City Commission tonight (January 23rd).

The first reading will take place during the meeting at City Hall which starts at 6 o'clock.

If it passes, the second reading is scheduled for the February 6th meeting of the Daytona Beach City Commission.

The ordinance - which you can read in its entirety by clicking here - erases four articles of the city's current code, replacing it with new regulations to restrict how, when and where panhandlers can operate.

Some areas will be banned entirely for panhandlers, including within 20 feet of any commercial property, bus/taxi stop or transportation facility. Also under 20-foot bans are any automated teller machines, city-owned parking lots and/or garages (including pay stations) and any public restrooms.

There's a 100-foot ban for any daycare or school, a 150-foot ban for any intersections with signals and a complete ban for the entire Daytona Beach Boardwalk as well as any active outdoor dining or merchandise areas.

There's also rules to prevent panhandlers from engaging in aggressive or intimidating behavior with anyone who tells a panhandler no when solicited, including when inside a car stopped at an intersection. That includes verbal abuse or physical touching of any kind.

The ordinance was drafted by Melbourne-area attorney Michael Kahn at a cost of $30,000 to the city and is based on a similar one he wrote for the City of St. Augustine which the city eventually adopted.

As part of the process, Kahn held two evidentiary hearings where city workers, store owners and other members of the public testified to the DBCC about issues they were having with aggressive panhandlers. Those hearings were held December 12th and last week (January 16th).

Many of those who testified complained that panhandlers harassed them and their clients when they refused to hand over money or food. Others say they saw panhandlers urinate and defecate openly in public and physically get in the way of people's vehicles after they were denied money or food.

Daytona Beach's City Attorney recommends passing the ordinance, according to the agenda documents.