Small Town Takes Action Against 'Coercive and Aggressive Panhandling

Starting Wednesday, panhandlers in a small Washington town will face fines and even jail time if they engage in such activity in certain areas after the city council voted in favor of an ordinance earlier this month, addressing concerns that some begging had gotten too aggressive.

Ashley Myers told the local news that if she was issued a fine for panhandling, she wouldn't pay it. (Image source: KOMO-TV)

The ordinance in Chehalis, which is about 30 miles south of Olympia, passed unanimously last week to prohibit begging at on- and off-ramps and within 300 feet of stores, KOMO-TV reported. Panhandlers are also not allowed to approach people as they get in or out of their cars or at night.

According to a city council document, Chehalis has seen an "increase in the number of panhandlers within city limits, and an increase in the number of complaints from business owners and patrons due to unwanted and at times, coercive and aggressive panhandling."

"Panhandlers' presence in the driveways and along the roadways on our streets also adds to the traffic hazard and an increase in unsightly litter in these busy areas," the document went on.

"Some folks that do this activity are more aggressive than others," the city's Mayor Dennis Dawes said, according to KOMO. "Sometimes they'll just come up on people in parking lots and just startle them because they'll be in the middle of unloading or loading groceries or their children. Next thing they know, they turn around, there's someone standing right next to them."

Along the same lines, city council member Isaac Pope told the Chronicle he almost hit a man when he was put in this situation.

"He walked up behind me and I turned and there he was right in my face," Pope said.

KOMO reported that Dawes said he understands "folks have the right to do this, and we certainly want to respect that right, but we also have the folks that may not want to be bothered," the mayor adding that he hopes the new ordinance is a "happy medium."

For a first offense, panhandlers could receive a civil infraction and $250 fine. Second or more offenses are considered misdemeanors and could come with a $1,000 fine and up to 60 days in prison.

The issue though becomes whether panhandlers will be able to pay such tickets.

Ashley Myers, who holds a notebook that reads "Just Hungry," told KOMO that if authorities fined her, "there's no way I'm going to be able to pay it anyway."

Watch KOMO's report: