Incidents Current ordinance Enforcement Future ordinance Conclusions
19 enforcement incidents Warrant arrest 4 Public Intoxication Disorderly conduct (public urination) Aggressive solicitation 4 bans 2 soliciting civil citations 4 soliciting arrests
20 enforcement incidents Assault 3 Public Intoxication 8 bans 6 soliciting civil citations 7 soliciting arrests
20 enforcement incidents Warrant arrest Public Intoxication Drug paraphernalia Harassment of Public Official 10 bans 9 soliciting civil citations 3 soliciting arrests Accident
Last Iowa exit/kimberly Rd. Hy-Vee, 2900 Devils Glen Rd. Devils Glen Rd./State St. Kimberly Rd. @ The Ruby Slipper (formerly Crescent Cleaners)/Schnucks Middle Rd. @ McDonald s
Sec. 7-1-1(A) - STREET SOLICITATION Sec. 7-1-1(B) - AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION Sec. 7-1-1(C) - LICENSING Sec. 7-1-1(D) - RESTRICTED LOCATIONS/TIMES Sec. 7-1-1(E) - PENALTY FOR VIOLATION **** Every panhandler is given a copy of the city ordinance by the Community Service Officer (CSO) regarding panhandling at the time their license is issued, AND they are given a 6 page Community Resources at a Glance handout published by the United Way of the Quad Cities with help/support for: addiction, clothing, counseling, disability services, domestic violence, employment, food, healthcare, housing, legal, shelters, transportation, etc.
City ordinance applies to public right of ways, NOT private parking lots/private property
2004 1 2005 1 2006 5 2007 1 2008 4 2009 10 2010 25 2011 9 2012 39 2013 18 2014 31 2015 30 As of 05/04/15, 40 current, active panhandlers
Hear it from others in local homeless shelters Silvis, IL man arrested for violation of ordinance stated he saw it on chat site on internet Recruited by other panhandlers and brought to the station
Passing motorists 106 (Citizen Volunteer) Off-duty officers
Initially, civil citations were issued Eventually, enforcement was by arrest WITHOUT THE DEDICATION OF A SINGLE CITIZEN S POLICE ACADEMY VOLUNTEER, EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
Two panhandlers arguing over street corner at the I-74 WB exit ramp to Spruce Hills Dr., one is wanted by the Iowa County Sheriff s Office for FTA Driving Under Suspension 11/21/11 Case #11-25680
A panhandler comes into station for a license, is run for warrants, and is found to be wanted by Davenport PD for Theft 5 th. She is with a male who is also wanted, but warrant is non-extraditable 10/10/12 - Case #12-19760
A panhandler comes into the station for a license, is run for warrants, and is found to be wanted by Davenport PD for Criminal Mischief 5 th 12/12/2012 Case #12-24227
An aggressive panhandler at the I-74 WB exit ramp to State St. cusses at a female motorist who won t give him money. She calls police. The panhandler produces a North Carolina driver s license. The panhandler is obviously intoxicated and blows a.208%. A criminal history is run to look for previous public intoxication arrests. Officers find the panhandler is flagged as KNOWN TO GO ARMED & KNOWN TO HAVE SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. The criminal history indicates why. The panhandler had previous felony arrests and convictions for breaking and entering (commonly known as burglary), robbery with a dangerous weapon, and bank robbery. He had a kidnapping 2 nd degree arrest with no conviction 02/22/14 - Case #14-3389
A panhandler at the I-74 EB exit ramp to Middle Rd. holds a sign claiming to be a homeless Vietnam veteran. Panhandler admits he is NOT a veteran and is arrested and charged under state code 714.8 (Fraudulent practices) subsection 6, For the purpose of soliciting assistance, contributions, or other things of value, falsely represents oneself to be a veteran of the armed forces of the United States 09/05/14 - Case #14-17279
A panhandler at the I-74 WB exit ramp to State St. is watched as he walks to buy beer in the 1000 blk. of State St. He walks to the abandoned gas station at 845 State St. and proceeds to urinate behind a sign. Officer gets out with him and runs him for warrants. He is wanted by the Wisconsin Dept. of Corrections for Parole Violation original charge armed robbery 10/17/14 - Case #14-20255
Under the 2013 Code of Iowa, section 321.358 No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control device Traffic citation
(4) have had non-extraditable warrants (7) have been sexual offenders Many have criminal histories
Free Must renew every 6 months Allows police department to at least know who is out there
A fraud investigation by KGAN Cedar Rapids, IA 05/11/09, 05/12/09, & 09/16/09 Bettendorf panhandler is named in the report In this investigative report, KGAN-TV dug deep into the lives of three men who panhandled daily in Cedar Rapids. After eight weeks of following the men and talking to their friends and family, KGAN found that they make several hundred dollars a day. One even owns a home. The panhandlers haven t returned since the story aired.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4jq gr_gvtg Points in the video apply here
I-74 EB entrance ramp from Grant St. I-74 EB last Iowa exit (in the woods) Behind abandoned properties at 845 & 931 State St.
Many of the panhandlers own vehicles and park them nearby Many of them are NOT homeless At least one uses a wheelchair as a prop Many treat panhandling like a job, a tax free cash job Some of the homeless encountered have been excluded from the shelters due to their unwillingness to follow rules or help out with work
Garbage Public consumption/intoxication Fights/assaults/disturbances Disorderly conduct (public urination) Homeless camps Repeat offenders
Adopting an ordinance that mirrors the Cedar Rapids, IA ordinance No panhandling within 100 feet of a controlled intersection
Safety concerns to panhandlers/to motorists Persistent trends problem is growing, not subsiding Enforcement concerns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4jq gr_gvtg http://rabble.ca/babble/body-andsoul/anti-panhandling-signs-helpingor-hurting www.evchamber.com www.evmark.org www.evanstonpolice.com