Aggressive Beggars Force Woodland To Pass Panhandling Restrictions
WOODLAND (CBS13) - The city of Woodland has passed a new ordinance restricting where people are allowed to beg for money.
This comes as residents complained about the increasingly aggressive behavior of panhandlers.
A homeless man was set up in front of the Woodland Walmart with a sign asking for money. Then suddenly the man angrily approached CBS13 cameras and began swearing at us.
Denise Olson witnessed the entire altercation with her several young children.
"I haven't seen him before but I'm not surprised," she said of the event.
Woodland's panhandling problem is getting worse. The man was clearly agitated, waving at traffic before charging at our camera. The man even threw something at the news truck as it was driving off.
"It gets worse every month. It gets worse and worse and worse," resident Dannielle Parker said. "There's even been a couple with two kids out in this heat, and it's just like 'guys, get those kids inside.' "
So in response to the aggressive and sometimes threatening behavior by panhandlers, Woodland's city council unanimously passed a new ordinance banning begging in several public places.
Those places include outside of restaurants, near banks and ATM machines. It also prohibits panhandlers from approaching vehicles, whether parked or sitting at an intersection.
"When I got in my car, my window was down and (a panhandler) put his hand in and scared me to death," said Olson. "He wanted some money and I said I didn't have any, and I did but he scared me to death."
Even Olson, who says she gives food and money to panhandlers, says that incident was way over the line.
In a few short weeks, episodes like that will be against the law. Woodland's new ordinance is set to take effect August 1.
