Bloomington:
Panhandling is a growing social and public safety concern faced by cities of all sizes, including Bloomington. Many panhandlers passively ask for money or hold a sign. Others are much more aggressive, making loud, sometime repeated demands and some panhandlers choose to solicit in places that are particularly intimidating such as near ATM machines, in a restroom or near your car. This is considered aggressive panhandling and in Indiana is against the law. You can take action, both to stop the crime and to make a real difference to help people in need. On this page you will find how panhandling is defined; behaviors that are in violation of the law, guidelines for responding to panhandlers and agencies that work with the homeless and low income families in our community.

Dallas police increase patrols for aggressive panhandlers:


DALLAS — Panhandlers are often just looking for change or a dollar or two.
But some are turning violent against those who refuse to hand over cash, and Dallas police are stepping up patrols in the city's Uptown neighborhood.
Three Houston businessmen were in Dallas having dinner outdoors at the Vino 100 restaurant on McKinney Avenue when a panhandler walked up to their table.
"Normally, you tell somebody to to move on, they just move on," said Denis Hensley. "But he got very upset that we wouldn't give him money."
The panhandler got aggressive, threw hot coffee in their faces and fled.
"He ran off and then we found him walking across the street and went and pinned him down and held him there for the cops to come," said Kirk Verone.
The men took a picture of the panhandler after running several blocks to catch him.

Police gave the man a ticket for a Class C assault, the equivalent of a speeding ticket.

A possible Feral Crackhead Panhandler

Aggressive Panhandling Creates Nuisance For NW OKC Neighborhood:

OKLAHOMA CITY -

If you're experiencing more begging in Oklahoma City, you're not alone. Officials say panhandling is on the rise and a certain neighborhood is seeing an aggressive form.

Business owners and residents in the area of I-44 and Pennsylvania Avenue say panhandling is becoming a never-ending nuisance. Panhandler Jim Miller says he is part of the minority when it comes to those looking for help.

"I'm asking for anything," Miller said. "Food, clothing, money … it doesn't matter."

Miller says far too many people are looking for just cash to help support unhealthy habits.

"It's just getting worse every day," said Miller.

Area residents agree.

"I saw one of them hit somebody in the eye," northwest side resident Gregory Norman said. "Some guy stopped for something and I guess he must have said 'No'."

Police say it's not uncommon to receive 911 calls for aggressive panhandling near NW 39th and Penn, and a nearby condo complex is warning residents of homeless people trespassing on private property.
Officials working directly with the homeless population tell News 9, for whatever reason, it seems to be getting worse.

"I make sure I turn on my alarm on a regular basis now," area resident Kelly Bradshaw said. "Something needs to be done, but I personally don't know what we need to do."

To tackle the issue, the Oklahoma City Homeless Alliance says it has something people should try – a voucher program. The alliance sells booklets of bus tickets for people to distribute to panhandlers. The tickets have information on where homeless people can find free shelter, food and help.

The vouchers are available here http://www.homelessalliance.org/ and cost $5 for a book of five.

property.

Business owners in Ocean Beach say aggressive panhandlers are hurting business.
SAN DIEGO - Business owners in Ocean Beach say panhandlers are becoming more aggressive and affecting business in a big way.

They say some panhandlers have become so aggressive that they have had to press charges, even make citizens arrests.

Recently, one of them shouted death threats at the owner of Galactic Comics, who provided 10News with several surveillance video clips to give an idea of just how bad things have gotten.

"Since I had my head turned … yep, there it goes in his coat right there," said David Draize, owner of Galactic Comics, as he watched the surveillance video. "So he had robbed us something about the value of about $45 … $50."

Draize provided 10News with several surveillance video clips captured from inside and outside of Galactic Comics in Ocean Beach.

He said Ocean Beach panhandlers who have become increasingly aggressive are to blame.

"When we're not turning, of course the $40 book goes into his coat," said Draize while watching the surveillance video.

Draize says one of the aggressive panhandlers seen in his surveillance video lives in an inlet between his store and another and in a video clip can be seen urinating in a cup, then dumping it in front of his store.

"A lot of these incidents are causing just a lot of extra time and burden on the local shop holders and local shop owners in the area," said Draize.

Draize feels that an anti-panhandling ordinance – like other U.S. cities have adopted – where nobody could panhandle within 15 feet of an ATM or a business entrance, would be extremely effective and help curb the situation at hand.

Other business owners are skeptical that the courts would see it through.

"Given the current legal situation, it would be futile," said Ocean Beach business owner and attorney Craig Klein.

Klein and his wife have owned the historic Clark building, which is home to eight businesses, since 1996.

"We'd just like to ask that people who come to Ocean Beach respect the town, respect the residents, respect the merchants and conduct themselves the way they would want a guest in their home to conduct themselves," he said. "It just gets tiring having to pick up beer bottles and trash off the sidewalk and other less palatable things that have been left as gifts by some of these transients and homeless people."

Klein also agrees panhandlers in Ocean Beach have become more aggressive as of late.

"They're aggressively panhandling people and what that does is it frightens folks who would come down and be an economic benefit as well as a just general benefit to the community … families and their children, people with kids," he said. "Those are the kind of people who we need in Ocean Beach to help the local economy thrive and to make people feel that Ocean Beach is a good and safe place to visit."

Klein and other business owners credit the San Diego Police Department with working to make Ocean Beach a cleaner, safer and more family-friendly environment.

However, he says a big effort on the part of those who call the streets of Ocean Beach home is much needed too.