DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – The City of Dallas and its police department are still sparring over the best way to crack down on aggressive panhandlers.
Chief Renee Hall told city council on Monday that since panhandling has been deemed constitutional, the enforcement of certain ordinances leave the city open to a lawsuit.
“It is our responsibility in these positions to ensure that when we are given information that puts the city and the police department in a position of litigation that we move in an aggressive matter to prevent that,” she said.
Hall said officers will issue tickets to panhandlers who work city streets or are caught criminally trespassing.
“If they’re at an ATM or a store that is owned and operated by someone who does not want them on their property and has made that known to the police department than we’re going to enforce that as well,” she said.
Several council members told Hall that residents have been telling them the growing number of aggressive panhandlers across the city has them fearing for their safety.
Hall said the department is looking outside Dallas to find the best possible solution.
“We’re looking at other cities to find out not necessarily through enforcement, to find out what other cities are doing and maybe adopt some of those policies as well,” said Hall.
The next meeting to discuss a possible plan is scheduled for February 26.
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