Solicitors at Busy Intersections

Trixie

Trixie

Moderator
I am PISSED OFF!

I am so sick of being held up in traffic for all the random people who now solicit money in busy intersections.

So I e-mail my police department, wondering what can be done. I have 3 specific complaints:

1. They hold up traffic at busy times of day. (In my area it can take me well over 1/2 hour to drive 10 miles to work during rush hour - average time is between 30 - 45 minutes).

2. It makes me feel unsafe having these people just walking up and down beside cars stopped in traffic.

3. It makes me feel unsafe driving while these people are in the roadway.

So the reply: They tell me to put my purse on the floor, not on my passenger seat, yada yada, tell me to drive carefully as if there's a jogger on the side of the road....

WTF? Isn't anyone else sick of these people harrassing us while we're stopped at red lights? Doesn't anyone else get annoyed that you feel like you have to put your windows up when you pull up to an intersection? They're getting to be worse than phone solicitors.

Not sure who I'll contact next, but the police response has me more pissed off now than before.
 
J

Jibit

New member
I totally agree, I've had a couple of arguements with some of the people downtown begging for money. Depending what area I'm in, I'll leave some space in front of me so that if something happens I can always ram my way out! I don't mind them asking for money, what bugs me is when they try to wash my windows without asking!

David O'Donnell
'97 Mark VIII LSC "Maxine II" (RIP Maxine I, 5-16-03)
'91 Mark VII BB "Monica"
'67 Thunderbird "Molly"
 
S

steve

With "LOD" Since 1997
Talk to your council person or mayor. I should think there must be some sort of ordnance 1) for people to solicit, 2) to stand out in traffic like that. They use to have the kids do it here for programs like little league, but now only adults can do it. The squeegee guys and crack head bums are a PITA.
 
Trixie

Trixie

Moderator
Yeah, I just wrote to the Mayor. Told him now I'm pissed off about the solicitors and the way I'm treated by the police department. xo

Maybe I'll have to write to the local newspaper too. It just seems like someone is soliciting at least once a week, and they never even indicate what they are soliciting for. And I'm totally sick of getting stuck in left turn lanes because people are busy getting money out of their wallets to give to these guys.

I don't know - when it used to be the firemen, or the poppy people, they at least moved out of traffic, and you knew who you were dealing with. Plus it wasn't a weekly occurrence.
 
Trixie

Trixie

Moderator
Mike, I see that as different. It doesn't bother me when they're on the streets, as I can avoid them if I wish to or walk away.

On the streets it bothers me because I'm stuck in traffic with no where to go, not to mention having traffic held up leading to even more congestion than we already have.

Actually, my village used it against people. They set up a cop looking like someone who was soliciting, and then he watched for people running a red left turn light and they were pulled over and ticketed. They even reported that people tried to give this officer money, even though he wasn't even actually requesting money from anyone.

I just think there's enough going on in rush hour traffic without having this distracting drivers, too.
 
driller

driller

El Presidente
Thankfully, around the best small city in the country here where I live, it is not out of control but occasionally you will see different groups soliciting at certain intersections.

My opinion is go after the groups! Call/write and voice your displeasure. What ever happened to the sports league car washes? At least they do a little work for the funds rather than panhandle off the public. The wonderful thing about that was IF you wanted to contribute, you went out of your way and got your car washed, you weren't bomblasted at a busy intersection.

My pet peeve is the panhandler at the offramps usually near town. 'Will Work for Food' / 'Disabled Veteran' / 'Need to Feed Kids'(pick which sign). Don't get me wrong, I have sympathy for those truly in need, but this dude has been NOT working for food for quite some time. I can see a poor soul hitting bottom and needing help, but perpetually staying there is suspicious to me. ::nono::
 
J

johnaec

New member
I've seen on TV where even well-off people start panhandling at busy intersections. They say they do it because they make more money than working a straight job, often $150-$200/day tax free...

John
[link:www.goldengatemark8.com|Golden Gate Mark VIII Website]
http://mark8.org/users/johnaec/Mark_VIII_s.jpg
'97 Mark VIII LSC
'96 T-Bird 4.6L
 
B

buddylee

New member
[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
I've seen on TV where even well-off people start panhandling at busy intersections. They say they do it because they make more money than working a straight job, often $150-$200/day tax free...John[link:www.goldengatemark8.com|Golden Gate Mark VIII Website]http://mark8.org/users/johnaec/Mark_VIII_s.jpg'97 Mark VIII LSC'96 T-Bird 4.6L
[/div]

I think it was a radio DJ. he did it for a week , he said it would = to 40k a year. Tax free thats like 50k
 
Trixie

Trixie

Moderator
[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
I've seen on TV where even well-off people start panhandling at busy intersections. They say they do it because they make more money than working a straight job, often $150-$200/day tax free...[/div]

Well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. }(

Driller, part of the issue I have is that these groups don't even say who they are. But I kinda like that idea. Maybe I'll start asking them, although I usually try to avoid eye contact so they leave me alone. No identifying information except those orange vests.
 
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BlackIceLSC

New member
[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
Then you would hate San Francisco!http://www.redmullet.com/images/hl1.jpgStanley E. RobertsPresident/Founderhttp://www.GoldenGateMark8.comhttp://www.We8there.com
[/div]


Oh man, Stanley...that is so funny...I was going to tell her the same thing.

Sharon, "street solicitation" is so rampant in the SF bay area, it is practically a business. many have been caught walking back to their new cars parked just a few blocks from where they spend hours upon hours each day...making(are you ready) $40k a year!

A small group of teenagers 'dressed down' for a month, and as a class project, went out to prove a point-you CAN make money doing this. They made over $7500 in 2 weeks.

I wont get political on you all, but this easily falls into the "bleeding-heart Liberal" topic of San Fran.

Its nothing new here...one guy has a sign simply saying "Why Lie? I need a drink!"

some folks have offered to buy lunch for those that write "will work for food"...one such "homeless" person was actually offered a job by a study group. When they said "you'll work for food? Ok... come with us, we have a job for you"....he turned them down, and asked for money instead.

In my opinon, as long as suckers continue to hand out cash/change, they will NEVER stop asking for it.

PEOPLE- STOP giving them money!
You ARENT helping them!!!



[a
Club 16 President/Founder
94 Black/Black M8
97 Toreador red/Lt. graphite LSC M8
V.P. GGM8​
 
9

97LSC_2NV

New member
Hey Sharon, talk to your local news 'action reporter'. We had several stories a few years back of people just putting a piece of paper on a bucket and saying it was for charity, when in reality it was all gong to the folks standing there. Mekes it hard for the legitimate collecters, i.e. Firefighters for MD, to do a good deed. Have them investigate where and how much of the money collected goes. Some collecters are paid for their time as well. 'Action reporters' love this kind of stuff! Let them stick a microphone in their faces and see if they scatter.
 
driller

driller

El Presidente
Just yesterday I heard on the local news radio, our town of Morgantown, WV passed an ordinance banning street peddling - stating several reasons, the most prominent being public safety.

I didn't know city council read the LOD forums! :7
 
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