The new rule was months in the drafting, and is designed to keep people out of the road at busy intersections where panhandlers asking drivers and their passengers for money could fall into traffic or be struck by a car driven by an errant motorist.
Clearly inspired by the numbers of apparently homeless people who ask for money while cars are stopped at intersections, the new ordinance also brought out a new call for homeless people to take advantage of services now available, instead of risking injury by asking motorists for money. This affects all people, there certainly are some issues out there that affect a particular group of people, said Commission Chair Kevin Ruane, who continued his campaign urging homeless people to take advantage of services.