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Burien business owners push to require permits for panhandlers

BURIEN, Wash. — People in Burien are fed up with panhandlers and want to require them to get permits to collect money.

"What does this say about our society that we're going to let people panhandle unchecked? That's a lot of tax dollars going out of our city," said Darla Green, who owns a boutique in downtown Burien.

She thinks the city should require panhandlers to apply for a free permit by submitting two forms of identification and undergoing a background check.

"All that means is we do not have a criminal that has a warrant out for their arrest or a sexual predator on our street corners," said Green.

She also said it's not fair that she has to apply for permits to run her business and panhandlers don't.

"How is that fair to me? How is that fair to the community?" said Green.

"I think it is getting more out of control more year by year," said longtime Burien resident Alec Johansson.

But Doug Honig of the American Civil Liberties Union said requiring permits for panhandlers is illegal.

"That's not America. In America you have the right to basic free speech -- that includes the right to say, 'I don't have money, help me,'" said Honig.

Back in 2000, the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Medina for requiring licenses for people to solicit donations or talk to people about religious or political beliefs.

A federal court just barred the city from enforcing the ordinance and it was repealed.

"We'd say it's unconstitutional, especially in Washington state has very strong protections for free speech," said Honig.

Cherie Wisner said she makes about 20 dollars every few hours panhandling in Burien.

"I don’t need a permit and it's freedom of speech," she said. Wisner added that requiring a permit seems extreme. "I would say that's a little crazy, it's too much."

The city of Burien said panhandling is not illegal, but aggressive panhandling is.

Green said she plans to present the idea for the ordinance to the City Council in the next few weeks.