Quote:
Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus
there's no way it can be legal to panhandle like this can it?
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Panhandling is restricted in Calgary, but not illegal. There is an Act that governs when, where and how. This page has an overview, and a link to the Act itself:
http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/ABS/Pages...nhandling.aspx
Having them wander in traffic is a bigger issue, and a big problem on its own.
The problem is, as btimbit pointed out, there's precious little that can actually be done about it that is an effective deterrent. Police go and move the person on? Person (or another one) comes back. Police give a fine? If person can pay, they generally won't anyhow. Police 'sit' at one intersection that is popular with them? They go to another. Police probably get over 100 calls a day about people panhandling in and around various places (especially intersections) but there is, honestly, precious little that they can effectively DO about it.