Miami city commissioners repealed an ordinance criminalizing aggressive panhandling, a move following a lawsuit from the Florida Justice Institute. The ordinance, in effect since 2000, imposed fines and jail time for violators. The lawsuit argued that the ban violated First Amendment rights by unfairly targeting panhandling over similar forms of speech, such as political campaigning. The city had previously been criticized for its approach, leading to nearly 400 arrests in the last two years. The move signals a shift towards a more inclusive interpretation of expressive rights in Miami.
Requesting donations is speech protected by the First Amendment. The City cannot single out panhandling for differential treatment because it deems that speech unpleasant.
The city enacted the ordinance prohibiting "aggressive" or "obstructive" panhandling in 2000, allowing significant police action to discourage begging.
Collection
[
|
...
]