The Shreveport City Council is set to vote on an ordinance to change the way charity organizations solicit funds on local roadways.

Here's the language in the ordinance:

Vehicles for Hire Article IX. Peddlers, Solicitors and Itinerant Vendors

Stopping in public places.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person engaging in the business in the city of selling or offering for sale any goods or merchandise or exhibiting the same for sale or for the purpose of taking orders for the sale thereof to stop on any alley, street, sidewalk or other public place of the city, except when he is actually engaged in making a sale.

This will not apply to the following:

(1) A sidewalk vendor licensed in accordance with division 3 of this article;

(2) A food truck vendor licensed in accordance with division 5 of this article.

This is the change that has lots of folks worried:

Solicitation from occupants of motor vehicles.

No person shall stand upon a roadway, including both the roadway and any shoulder or right of way adjacent to the roadway, for the purpose of soliciting business or donations from the occupant of any vehicle.

Shreveport Councilman James Flurry tells KEEL News the roads are a dangerous place and the council should do everything possible to make our roads safer.

He adds:

We are being proactive. In today's world where people are texting and such, the street is the worse place that you can be. We want you in a safe zone.

We asked Councilman Flurry if this would include Shreveport firefighters who have a "Fill the Boot" campaign every year. He said the change would apply to all groups. He says "everyone must be treated fair."

He suggests people trying to collect money should do so in parking lots.

 

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