Panhandlers and Street Vendors pose a danger for drivers and to themselves
By: Sharon Aron Baron
Soon, many drivers will notice something missing from many major intersections in the city: Street vendors and peddlers.
The Coral Springs City Commissioners recently approved an ordinance amending the City Code regarding “Solicitors, Canvassers, Peddlers, and Itinerate Vendors.” The ordinance prohibits anyone from soliciting, requesting donations, or advertising in the medians at intersections determined to be unsafe for these activities.
According to Deputy City Manager Jennifer Bramley, the ordinance, was effective back in December, however, will not be strictly enforced until Monday, January 13.
“We wanted to notify schools, not-for-profits and other groups that commonly solicit on those corners that the ordinance is in place. To that end, the Police Department has been issuing warnings, and will start to enforce the ordinance on Monday.”
Homeless Voice
Mayor Vincent Boccard said that the passing of the ordinance was an accomplishment. “This is a chance to clear the intersections and make the public safe.”
Vice Mayor Larry Vignola, a big proponent of the ordinance said, “It’s unsafe, and it’s a matter of when, not if, before someone gets hurt.”
Police Chief Pustizzi pointed out at a recent Commission meeting, a motorist traveling at 40 miles per hour needs 140 feet to recognize the need to brake, apply the brake, then come to a complete stop. If someone slipped off the median in one of the major intersections, in all likelihood the motorist would be forced to make the unenviable choice of striking the fallen solicitor or swerving into traffic to miss the fallen person thereby causing an accident.
The City Commission, therefore, felt this action was necessary to protect the traveling public as well as those soliciting from the medians. After careful study, the City Commission believes it is in the best interests of the residents, and those who travel through the City, to prohibit right-of-way solicitors and canvassers on certain major streets located within the City at the following intersections:
Intersections
Royal Palm Blvd & University Drive
Atlantic Blvd & University Drive
Riverside Drive & University Drive
Sample Road Intersections
Sample Road & University Drive
Sample Road & 441
Sample Road & Riverside Drive
Sample Road & Coral Springs Drive
Sample Road & Coral Ridge Drive
Sample Road & Rock Island Road
Sample Road & NW 62nd Street
Wiles Road Intersections
Wiles Road & University Drive
Wiles Road & 441
Wiles Road & Riverside Drive
Wiles Road & Coral Springs Drive
Wiles Road & Coral Ridge Drive
Author Profile
- Editor of Talk Media and writer for Coral Springs Talk. CST was created in 2012 to provide News, Views, and Entertainment for the residents of Coral Springs and the rest of South Florida.
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1 comment
It’s my understanding that State law still trumps city law as far as newspaper vending goes–The Homeless Voice, for example. The city can’t stop them.
CS already lost a lawsuit with the state because they don’t have the right to restrict the distribution of news. (A huge and very valid First Amendment issue.) All they can do is restrict them to standing in the median, servicing that one lane only, and not stepping foot on the roadway. Stepping foot on the roadway is the only possible (misdemeanor) offense.
Ironically, schools can do the same thing–simply by handing out circulars of school news, while still holding their car washes. Of course, I doubt many school leaders will understand the law and go against city wishes.
The problem with the current commission is that they’re a bunch of spoiled brats who want to always have their way, state and federal law often be damned. They want to live in “a perfect world,” but only if it’s perfect for them.
–TheCoralSpringer.com