(MPRN-Lansing) A state House committee has adopted a bill with new restrictions on panhandling. The legislation would replace state and local anti-panhandling laws that have been struck down by federal courts for violating free speech rights.
The House Criminal Justice Committee eliminated restrictions on where panhandlers could ask for money. It banned begging near banks and ATMs.
But the legislation still has other provisions that forbid aggressive words or gestures, obstructing someone, or making unwelcome physical contact.
“This simply makes it clear to panhandlers that it’s not acceptable to intimidate and harass people until they hand over money,”
said state Representative Mike McCready (R-Bloomfield Hills), who sponsored the bill.
But critics say the bill is still problematic because it only applies to panhandling, and not other types of speech that might occur on public streets.
“We are targeting poor people for criminal activity,”
said Shelli Weisberg of the American Civil Liberties Union.
“There are other ways that I think we can handle our issues with a lot of panhandlers standing on the corners.
“There are many people who can approach you on the streets in an aggressive manner, but we’re saying about panhandlers, about poor people, that we should cloak them in some criminal intent, and I think that’s a problem.”
The bill cleared the committee by a 5-3 party-line vote. Republicans were for the bill, Democrats were opposed. It now goes to the House floor.