COSTA MESA : City Plans to Curb ‘Aggressive’ Panhandling

The dialogue usually goes something like this:

“Do you have any spare change?” asks the panhandler.

“No, sorry,” comes the answer, typically from a shopper just coming out of a department store or grocery store.

“What do you mean, ‘No’? I need it,” the panhandler says, assertively. “I don’t have anything to eat.”

The scenario is repeated throughout the city, according to police. It’s called aggressive panhandling, and the City Council today will discuss a proposed ordinance to control it.

“There is a fine line between somebody who is homeless and asking for a handout and an aggressive panhandler who just won’t stop and keeps tugging at your shirt-sleeve,” said Police Chief David L. Snowden, who supports the ordinance.

According to Snowden, officers now have two choices when confronting a panhandler: They can either give a verbal warning or arrest people who, in the process of asking for a handout, disturb the peace or obstruct a public right of way.

Council members support the ordinance, which was drafted by City Atty. Thomas Kathe and which defines aggressive behavior and lets police know when they can arrest such a person.

“It will give law enforcement another tool,” Councilman Gary Monahan said. “It defines what aggressive is and when such behavior is a detriment to the public.”

According to Costa Mesa Police Officer Jeff McCollam, who prepared a report on panhandling for a council study session, some local businesses are “besieged” with panhandlers who beg for money and try to provide unwanted services in public streets--such as washing car windows.

While the victims are both young and old, the most commonly preyed upon are unaccompanied women in large shopping centers.

According to Costa Mesa police, there were 30 reports of aggressive panhandling in 1994. Most cases took place in parking lots, but police believe many more cases have gone unreported.

“The bottom line is stricter enforcement,” McCollam said. “These offenders aggressively panhandle for money because they can without interference from the shop owners and police.”

Councilwoman Sandra L. Genis supports the proposed ordinance.

“I think there are cases when panhandling can be so aggressive that it’s no different than a holdup,” she said. “On the other hand, we need to recognize the constitutional right to free speech.”