Baltimore, Howard and Harford counties have laws banning solicitation of money in roadways ? with the exception of nonprofits.
But Anne Arundel?s new law, which goes into effect Oct. 1, bans any panhandling on county roads.
“We?re not giving anyone special treatment,” said Anne Arundel police spokeswoman Sgt. Sara Schriver.
While Anne Arundel may have the strictest ban, Harford has the stiffest penalty. At $1,000, a citation in Harford is twice as much as in Anne Arundel and Howard; Baltimore?s is $100.
Officials in other counties echoed Anne Arundel officials in that tougher laws were needed for safety reasons.
“We had complaints about safety … and it was somewhat of a harassment issue,” said Baltimore County Councilman Vincent Gardina, who sponsored the law that was passed in May.
“This was more of a safety issue, because we did hear a lot of concerns about the danger” of people in the streets, said Jane Walker, an administrative specialist in the Harford Government and Community Relations office.
But these types of laws raise worries about First Amendment violations, as in Anne Arundel, where State?s Attorney General Doug Gansler ruled a clause in the county?s law unconstitutional because it banned sign-waving.
“If it?s unconstitutional to prevent politicians from asking for money, it?s unconstitutional to ban poor people from asking for money,” said David Rocah, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union.
Anne Arundel?s ability to get a tougher state law may encourage other jurisdictions to follow.
“I?m interested in looking at the issue again,” said Howard Councilwoman Courtney Watson. “My major concern is when I see children in roadways soliciting money for [a] sports team. I?m interested in seeing how this works out in Anne Arundel County.”
Staff Writers Kelsey Volkmann and Jaime Malarkey contributed to this story.
