Framingham Police Issue First Citations Under New Panhandlers Ordinance

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FRAMINGHAM – As of November 1, the Framingham Police Department has issued five citations for the new “Median Safety and Pedestrian” ordinance, as known as the aggressive panhandlers ordinance. 

O n September 20, the 11-member City Council unanimously voted to pass a new ordinance to address “aggressive panhandlers” on 20 roadways in the City of Framingham.

Mayor Charlie Sisitsky signed the “Median Safety and Pedestrian” ordinance on September 22, and it went into effect immediately.

The first citation was issued on October 27, said Framingham Police spokesperson Lt. Rachel Mickens.

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Under the new ordinance, “a pedestrian shall not enter a public way into the pathway of motor vehicles traveling on and along the roadway or approach within five (5) feet of a motor vehicle or vehicles using a roadway.”

The Framingham Police Department will be in charge of enforcement.

“Any individual who violates the provisions of this ordinance shall be cited and fined.

For the first offense, it is a $50 fine.

For second offense, it is a $100 fine.

For third and subsequent offenses, it is a $300 fine.

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The new ordinance makes it “unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway whenever a sidewalk, median, crosswalk, center traffic island, or safety island is available for pedestrian use. … Where sidewalks, medians, crosswalks, center traffic islands, or safety islands are unavailable, a pedestrian shall use an unfinished shoulder of a roadway and avoid traveling or entering into the roadway.”

Lt. Mickens said yesterday, November 2, all 5 citations were for $50

Frustrated with panhandlers walking between traffic asking for money, knocking on driver’s windows, and even reaching into vehicles, the City Council passed the ordinance which restricts panhandling on specific roadways, for safety reasons.

The roadways include:

• Beaver Street
• Blandin Road
• Cochituate Road
• Concord Street
• Hollis Street
• Howard Street
• Irving Street
• Temple Street
• Union Avenue

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• Franklin Street
• Mt. Wayte Avenue
• Park Street
• Winter Street
• Route 9
• Speen Street
• Old Conn Path
• Whittier Street
• Shoppers World Drive