ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Across St. Johns County, panhandling has been a hot topic of discussion and illegal since May of 2023.
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Many county ordinances 2023-16 make illegal “any use of the public rights-of-way in a manner that interferes with the safe and efficient movement of people and property from place to place on a public road, street, or highway.”
The ordinance applies to all of unincorporated St. Johns County, meaning all parts of St. Johns County not within St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach city limits.
“I find that the panhandlers step off the curb into the moving traffic, they don’t always move when the stoplights turn green, and it’s a danger for the people driving,” said St. Augustine visitor Michelle Bess.
But now, that ordinance will no longer be enforced, at least for the short term.
The pause in enforcement is thanks to a federal lawsuit filed in the Middle District of Florida, claiming the ordinance violates First Amendment freedom of speech and Fourteenth Amendment due process.
Now, the plaintiffs in that lawsuit are asking the ordinance be permanently no longer enforced, though St. Johns residents aren’t too open to that idea.
“I wish they would enforce it a little more, especially downtown, it’s bad in St. George’s, around that area,” said William Stalcup.
Action News Jax spoke to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Monday morning and a spokesman did confirm enforcement is paused due to that ongoing lawsuit against the county.
The St. Augustine Police Department told Action News Jax they’ll continue to enforce the city’s panhandling restrictions, aimed at cracking down specifically on “aggressive” panhandling.
While some feel enforcement is needed, St. Augustine resident Mary Stalcup said so is compassion towards those in need.
“To have that compassion when you can and to do what you can because, there for the grace of god, could go you,” Stalcup said.
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