Montgomery County officials are seeking a total ban of roadside solicitation, which would prohibit homeless people and firefighters alike from seeking donations from road medians. County Executive Ike Leggett receives complaints every week about solicitations from the homeless and charity seekers on the county’s main roadways, according to his spokesman, Patrick Lacefield. The County Council’s public safety and health and human services committees said at a meeting Thursday that they plan to seek support from the rest of the council to change legislation submitted to the Maryland General Assembly to allow the county to ban roadside panhandling. Currently the bill asks the legislature to allow the county to require permits for roadside solicitation. Seven of Maryland’s 23 counties have a total ban.

However, some council members are concerned about backlash from the county’s firefighters, who count on drivers’ charity for their annual Fill the Boot campaign. Last year, they raised $212,000 for muscular dystrophy in their three-day campaign.