North Battleford city council moved swiftly Monday to clamp down on panhandling activities in the community.
A new panhandling bylaw was introduced at Monday’s council meeting and passed in three readings.
Under the bylaw, simply asking for money in itself is not illegal. It is when the panhandling becomes aggressive and a nuisance to the public the bylaw provisions come into force.
According to the bylaw, panhandling is prohibited when done in a coercive manner, or from an occupant of a motor vehicle that is parked or stopped at a traffic signal or when loading and unloading. Panhandling is also prohibited on public transit, and no one is allowed to panhandle while intoxicated by alcohol or under the influence of illegal drugs or other substances.
The bylaw also requires clear access to doorways, automated teller machines, bus stops, bus shelters and other areas, and also prohibits behaviours such as causing a disturbance, participating or encouraging a fight, causing an obstruction, loitering or obstructing bylaw enforcement officers in their duties, among others. Activities such as spitting or urinating in public are also prohibited under the bylaw provisions.
A wide range of penalties is contemplated, with fines starting at $150 for first offences and going to $250 for second offences, $350 for third or subsequent offences, all the way up to $5,000.
In a memo to council from City Clerk Debbie Wohlberg, the intent was for Community Safety Officers or RCMP officers to be able to fine those in contravention of the bylaw and provide authority to move offenders along when causing an obstruction or problems.
City Manager Jim Puffalt explained the City considered the measures in the bylaw a last resort after all the other preventative measures have failed.
“Sometimes we have to take the steps we don’t want to do,” said Puffalt. “Certainly we prefer the proactive approach, but in the end we have to have the steps and the tools for our law enforcement to be able to work.”
