The city of Dallas is taking a stance on anyone panhandling while standing on medians.
On Wednesdasy, the Dallas City Council approved two ordinances designed to keep panhandlers away from drivers, and anyone caught panhandling could face a fine of $500.
Per a local Dallas newspaper, one ordinance bans pedestrians from roadway medians less than 6 feet wide, in the middle of streets without medians, and in clear zones, meaning bike lanes, road shoulders or any other unobstructed area bordering a roadway that allows a driver to stop safely or regain control of a vehicle that has left the street.
The other ordinance permits city marshals to issue citations to people violating that ordinance, along with an existing Dallas ordinance that bans people standing on public property near a public roadway from soliciting drivers or trying to attract their attention to ask for money, goods or some other service.
The fines can be worth up to $500.
Arrest warrants could be issued for people who don’t respond to the citation. The median ban will be reviewed by the City Council annually.
There are some exceptions to the ordinances though:
The median ban will not apply to pedestrians crossing a divided street “in the most direct route possible,” or who are injured in a crash, giving emergency aid to someone else or in the middle of the road while following the directions of police.
It also won’t apply to people performing permitted work in the right of way, such as putting up or taking down road barricades. People walking or standing on a paved sidewalk near a curb in a clear zone also would be exempt.
The ordinances will go into effect within days.
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