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Pasco Might Restrict Roadside Soliciting

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: June 24, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Pasco County might clamp down on roadside fundraisers who don't get necessary permits to seek money from drivers stopped at traffic signals.

"It's actually becoming a safety issue," Commissioner Pat Mulieri said during today's County Commission meeting. "They're standing in the road knocking on (car) windows" and requesting donations, she noted.

A police officer asked her to bring up the topic because of abuses and safety concerns, Mulieri said.
Many local groups do follow the rules and get the permits the county requires for roadside charitable solicitations, Mulieri was quick to add during a break in the commission meeting.

For example, firefighters get authorization for their boot drives benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

In addition, Mulieri doesn't think any changes would affect newspaper vendors who hawk Sunday papers at busy intersections.

Mulieri primarily is concerned about solicitors from outside the county who cross into Pasco and solicit without seeking permission. Solicitors might gravitate into Pasco if neighboring counties restrict roadside donations, she said.

The city of Tampa and Hillsborough County are reviewing ways to limit or ban solicitation on medians, Mulieri noted.

Pasco might do the same, Mulieri suggested today, although there could be constitutional issues that would have to be resolved, such as placing restrictions on religious groups.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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