Five Days in Jail for Aggressive Panhandler

Rochester City Attorney Terry Adkins says a man was recently sentenced to five days in the Olmsted County jail for aggressive panhandling.The man had already spent that much time in jail awaiting his court date and was released after he was given credit for the time he had served.

Adkins, during his monthly appearance Wednesday morning on KROC-AM’s Rochester Today show, said the man was charged with disorderly conduct for trying to open the door of a vehicle while he was panhandling at the 19th street interchange along Highway 52 in northwest Rochester. Adkins noted that kind of behavior would also be a violation of the new aggressive panhandling ordinance that will take effect in Rochester on Saturday. Because of the overlap with the disorderly conduct law, the City Attorney says he expects the biggest impact of the new ordinance will be connected to new limits on panhandling activity in close proximity to outdoor dining venues, ATM’s, and certain other areas.

A regular feature of the City Attorney’s appearance on Rochester Today is the “Ordinance of the Month.” This month, Adkins highlighted a little-known law that allows an airport to have its own police force. The Rochester Rochester Police Department is designated as the police force for the Rochester Airport and has authority to enforce airport regulations within a mile of the airport boundaries.

Click on the play button to listen to the show...