Kentucky court strikes down panhandling ordinance

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Updated 1:41 pm, Thursday, February 16, 2017



FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's Supreme Court says a panhandling ordinance in the state's second-largest city violated the free speech rights of a man arrested while holding a sign asking for money.

In striking down Lexington's ordinance, the court ruled Thursday that the law singled out begging as a type of speech that was subject to criminal prosecution.

The court's unanimous ruling came in the case of Dennis Champion, whom police cited for holding a sign asking for money along a busy Lexington street.

Champion's attorney said the ordinance singled out beggars, while people standing along roadways soliciting for groups or causes were spared punishment.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Kentucky-court-strikes-down-panhandling-ordinance-10938139.php

[SharonClark]

1. Lexington officials should have better things to do than outlaw beggars

[mountain grammy]

2. One thing is for sure

Begging better remain a right.

[Doreen]

3. If things go Trumps way begging may be a lot

of peoples only way to make money. Kind of like some third world countries.