Ralph Carpenter: Passive public begging, including in Modesto, is not illegal

With the holidays bringing out an increase in requests to help those less fortunate, I would like to point out something to all that would listen. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that “passive panhandling” – that is the holding of a sign stating one’s circumstances in a “traditionally public place” such as a park – in and of itself is not illegal. It is protected under our constitutional right to freedom of speech.

The Supreme Court has also ruled that cities cannot ban panhandling in its entirety citywide without having first met certain criteria. An example would be a recent ordinance in New York banning loitering for the purpose of begging, which was ruled unconstitutional. I would suggest that all of my street friends and family download and print out “A Guide to Regulating Panhandling” by Kent S. Scheidegger and carry it with them. Know your rights, and don’t be afraid to stand up for those rights.

This story was originally published November 27, 2017 at 1:58 PM with the headline "Ralph Carpenter: Passive public begging, including in Modesto, is not illegal."