JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — Mark Murdock spends his days at the intersection of Manhattan Boulevard and the Westbank Expressway in Harvey, asking drivers for help.
“Times being hard, it’s how I get money and food, especially food,” Murdock told WWL Louisiana.
Jennifer Freeman lives in a tent under the expressway.
She also panhandles on the street.
“It’s not about the money,” Freeman said. “I don’t do drugs or alcohol. This is trying to survive.”
Jefferson Parish Councilman Hans Liljeberg says panhandling on the public right away is dangerous for motorists and the person asking for donations.
He is now drafting an ordinance to crackdown on street side solicitation.
“In order to properly criminalize panhandling, you have to criminalize the act of panhandling and the act of donating,” Liljeberg said. “You can’t pick and choose which person, which act you want to criminalize. You have to wholesale criminalize it which frankly, I don’t have a problem with.”
Louisiana lawmakers are also considering a bill targeting panhandlers.
“Here in Baton Rouge is no different from in Orleans and Jefferson as well, “Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge said.
Rep. McMakin says solicitation on an interstate highway is already a crime.
He wants to extend that prohibition to any public street in the state.
His bill would also make it illegal to offer anything of value to a panhandler.
“For the health and safety of all, I think this bill has a great shot to pass this legislative session and then hopefully we can get people the right help they need and then protect the motorists and protect those and keep them off the streets,” McMakin said.
Liljeberg says it’s best to “to stem that tide” before panhandling gets out of hand.
“You’ve seen in New Orleans; it starts with one person and then it’s all over the city and then it’s a tent and then it’s tent city. I think we really need to stay on top of this.
Liljeberg expects to introduce his ordinance at the March 27 JP Council meeting.
The U.S. Supreme Court has held that panhandling, soliciting, and begging are considered protected free speech under the first amendment.
Liljeberg, a former judge says he is working to make sure his ordinance passes legal scrutiny.
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