Is it illegal to panhandle with a baby?

[Macaela25]

We were Publix hopping today stocking up on diapers and gas gift cards. A young woman was standing outside the store holding a very young baby and a sign asking for help. A few minutes later, she was at the Catholic church across the street when Mass let out. Twenty minutes later, at another Publix I saw her being dropped off with the baby by a man in a car.

We are in Florida, and I've googled trying to find out if this is some type of child exploitation. Please understand that I have great compassion for a down and out mom, but we have a huge problem in this area with homeless seniors, young women, and the disabled being "pimped out" to panhandle. This is obviously the case here, and it bugs me no end that a baby is being used this way to line someone's pockets. I couldn't even look at her, it tugged at my heart so bad. It's a great technique, but so, so, so wrong....

Anyone know or know where to find out?

[3timesoccermom]

I thought it was illegal just about everywhere, even withOUT the baby!!

Not sure if this will help much but I did a search on "Pandling laws in Florida" and chose the frist article that came up. Hope it helps.

Panhandling Laws in Florida | eHow.com

[motherofmolly]

the easiest way to find out, is call your non emergency number, report her with a description of what she is wearing and which way she is heading or where she is heading...

some might say 'well the baby is clean" or "is she really doing anything wrong"....but, you never know what the police have on her already. they might of already warned her or are trying to build a good case against her to get custody of the child. also, (i know here this is true) most of our panhandlers are needing money from drugs. you offer them food and they get mad. and they will give you the line "oh i am hungry" or "oh i just need gas money"...and i have seen ones with kids ...in fact i had a neighbor that decided at 5am to walk her 3 year old with her asking for money...she figured the child would make people one answer the door and two feel sorry for her. needless to say, within the week she was arrested for drugs and the child was given to her mother's custody.

[Macaela25]

It never fails to amaze me what people will do to feed their addictions.

[CRAFTYJEN]

I am not sure of the laws but how sad for the mother, just makes you wonder if the man is making her panhandle, a call to the local authorities may save the mom and child.

[preister]

When I saw the title of this post, I just knew you were in Florida. I have never seen anything like the panhandling in FL. Everytime I am there (my parents live there, so I'm there quite a bit) I am amazed by what people do for $. Every street corner has someone on it.

[Macaela25]

I think one of the reasons the panhandling is so bad here is that a lot of the transients and homeless come down here for the winter. It has gotten really bad recently though. There are particular street corners that the same couple of people rotate through, and they share a wheelchair, cane, or crutches. It's almost comical as this is a mid-sized town and you would pretty much think the same people would be passing the same panhandlers day after day...kinda pointless, really.

Our town is going to have to crack down somehow...just don't know how. Legoland is building a good-sized theme park/resort here and that sort of thing isn't pretty for the tourists.

The panhandling "gangs" or those who are controlled by and give their money to others are fairly new in the past few years around here -as far as I know, anyway. That situation is terribly sad.

[bali1228]

When I saw the title of this post, I just knew you were in Florida. I have never seen anything like the panhandling in FL. Everytime I am there (my parents live there, so I'm there quite a bit) I am amazed by what people do for $. Every street corner has someone on it.

I think one of the reasons the panhandling is so bad here is that a lot of the transients and homeless come down here for the winter. It has gotten really bad recently though. There are particular street corners that the same couple of people rotate through, and they share a wheelchair, cane, or crutches....<snip>.....The panhandling "gangs" or those who are controlled by and give their money to others are fairly new in the past few years around here -as far as I know, anyway. That situation is terribly sad.

I lived in Florida for four years and while I enjoyed it, I have to say it was depressing as can be when it came to panhandlers. I got anxious leaving the house, because it seemed like wherever I went I was being shook down. RI doesn't have as much of an "in your face" homelessness problem (although it is increasing), so I wasn't accustomed to dealing with panhandlers. That was a huge adjustment for me, because I can't walk by anyone with a can out.
These people out panhandling with babies are all part of a scam, it's always some man sending woman and children out to invoke peoples pity...and it works.

[billig]

Dang, why didn't I think of this? I could get twice as much money if I was holding somebodies kid! LOL!

In Minnesota you can stand there, hold your sign if you want, but it's illegal to approach anyone.
Also in Minnesota, if it snows 3 feet, there's no panhandlers at the freeway exits.

[cbms]

Hillsborough made it illegal, so all the panhandlers came one county north to my county. Pasco is LOADED with "homeless" that I'm 99.9% sure are not. I have worked with the Pasco County Homeless Coalition in the past, and these people that are begging look nothing like the truly homeless people I've encountered. There's a woman at my Publix EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. that begs with a sign declaring that she's a "single mom of four kids. Need electric bill money." She's a big.fat.liar. I've seen her in line at Publix buying booze and candy with money she'd begged off people. Gee-guess the electric isn't getting paid this month. The Publix employees can't stand her either-some refuse to even help her (the bagger on this night walked away and came back when I was checking out).

I wish my county would make it illegal too... :-/