DENVER — Denver police will no longer be enforcing the city’s aggressive panhandling ordinance.
The reason, a similar ban in Grand Junction has just been ruled as a violation of panhandlers’ first amendment rights.
The move doesn’t actually change as much as it may seem.
While officers are being told not to ticket people under the aggressive panhandling ordinance, officers are still allowed to enforce laws against aggressive behavior. That means places like the 16th street mall will still be monitored for behavior that impedes on the rights and safety of others.
Whether its street buskers trying to earn some extra cash or a way to survive day-to-day life, panhandlers fill the streets and sidewalks of the Mile High City.
“Hey thank you very much, I appreciate it,” street performer, Joseph Lamar is heard saying to a passerby who dropped money into his cap.
“25 cents for a joke, five for a buck what a steal,” busker Tazz Mania said while selling jokes to people walking by.
Begging for money is legal. In the books in Denver is a law against being aggressive in the effort to get a buck.
“They told me you can’t stand directly in front of a business. You can only spend about one hour in a spot and then you have to move to another spot,” said Lamar.
“What aggressive panhandling is, hey you got a dollar, you got a dollar, hey can I get a dollar, come on,” said Mania.
In the last year-and-a-half, Denver Police have issued more than 500 tickets for violations of the city’s aggressive panhandling ordinance.
“I get a lot of tickets,” said Jesse Weaver, a self-proclaimed busker and panhandler.
Now, that ordinance is getting a second look.
“The city is going to kind of take some time out here, re-evaluate its ordinance and move forward from there,” said Doug Schepman, spokesman for DPD.
A recent Federal district court ruling stated panhandling is a form of free speech.
“They are just trying to survive like the rest of us,” said Lamar.
That ruling means Denver police have proactively decided not to enforce the ban.
“There are other ordinances that an officer can utilize to address public safety issues,” Schepman said.
However, police say the move doesn’t mean threatening behavior will now be tolerated. A decision Tami Door, President and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership says is a good move for the city’s downtown.
“You have to have an environment where people feel safe and not feel threatened and we will have to work with others to really understand where that line is going forward,” she said.
For many working the corners and crowds, its still just another day on the streets.
“I’m not a bad guy,” said Weaver.