Cpl. Bart Veal

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-798-2368 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

Re: Something the Public Needs to Know about Panhandlers.

All of us have seen someone panhandling in our city. While we may be sympathetic or unsympathetic toward panhandlers depending on their passive or aggressive approach, generally panhandlers intimidate most people. Most of us may be initially concerned with helping the panhandler, but we are actually more apprehensive about personal or social pressure or perceptions. Panhandlers in a broad sense pray upon these emotions. Some people even believe that panhandling is a harmless or victimless act. This is not true. Studies have proven that panhandling around businesses decreases the number of patrons coming to the business and it also has negative effects tourism.

Panhandlers generally target high traffic areas asking for money using signs on the roadside. This can create serious traffic safety issues as the panhandlers walk in and out of traffic lanes, and motorist are distracted. Panhandlers usually approach women when using face-to-face solicitations because women are more likely to give them money and women are less confrontational.

Not all but most true panhandlers are transients because they choose this life style. They choose to make money panhandling from town to town and many of them have a rotation of cities that they visit periodically. Depending on their skill and personal appeal, a panhandler can make $20 to $50 a day in the mid range, to $300 a day on the high end. Studies show that most panhandlers spend much of their money on alcohol, drugs and tobacco.

The Texarkana Arkansas Police Department in no way wishes to appear insensitive toward the needed of our community but we ask that the public consider these factors when dealing with panhandlers. Arkansas State Law 5-71-213 prohibits the act of begging in a public place.

Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.