Panhandlers will find it harder to approach people in Red Deer.
Red Deer city council decided on Monday to restrict when and how individuals can ask for money, food or goods of any kind, whether by spoken or printed word.
The new rules under the Community Standards bylaw include no panhandling between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m., or while intoxicated or under the influence of illegal substances. An individual can only approach on their own, not in pairs or groups. Under the old rules, pairs could approach as well.
Panhandlers also can’t be within 10 metres of an entrance to a financial institution or automated teller machine or bank deposit slot, liquor store or bus stop or transit terminal. Obstructing pedestrians isn’t allowed either.
Manners are also important. They can’t threaten, insult or harass other users, nor try to seek money, etc. from those in a car or from those who have already refused.
Planning Director Paul Meyette said the imposed restrictions come as a result of a number of public complaints lodged to police.
Council was told panhandling cannot be banned completely because it’s allowed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Councillor Paul Harris, a downtown businessman, hailed the changes because he’s heard from customers too about being intimidated by panhandlers. Some have even jumped into cars to ask for money, he added.
“A lot of complaints we do get are from people who do go to the banks, especially during the middle of the day,” he said. “Just by nature of things, they’ll move along to locations where they are allowed to be.”
Harris said he’s not worried that more panhandling will occur in front of shops or other locations where panhandling would be allowed.
“There’s not a lot of panhandling in the downtown so it’s not a big concern to me,” he said. “But I don’t want our citizens to feel threatened.”
Administration had suggested that panhandling be banned, starting at 6 p.m. but Councillor Tara Veer was successful in getting it amended to 5 p.m. She said this one-hour difference was important because a number of downtown businesses shut down around this time.
Panhandling violators could be fined $75 for a first offence, $200 for a second offence and $500 for a third and subsequent offence.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com