The ACLU of Colorado sent a letter to 34 Colorado municipalities that make it a crime to “loiter for the purpose of begging,” and demanded that municipal authorities stop enforcement and take immediate steps to repeal the “legally indefensible” ordinances.
The ordinances that prohibit “loitering for the purpose of begging” are far broader than panhandling restrictions in Grand Junction that were struck down in 2015 by an ACLU lawsuit.
Instead of attempting to limit the restrictions to certain times, to certain places, or to panhandling in a certain manner, they make it a crime to ask for charity anywhere in the municipality, at any time, and by any means, including by peacefully sitting and holding a sign.
The ACLU of Colorado examined court records from ten cities that have a “loitering for the purpose of begging” law and found that eight had engaged in some form of enforcement in the last two years, either through issuing citations, warnings, or move-on orders.
The municipalities identified as having “loitering for the purpose of begging” ordinances are:
Avon
Bennett
Brighton
Buena Vista
Carbondale
Cherry Hills Village
Cortez
Crested Butte
Cripple Creek
Del Norte
Dillon
Eaton
Englewood
Firestone
Garden City
Gilcrest
Green Mountain Falls
Johnstown
La Junta
Leadville
Lochbuie
Mead
Meeker
Milliken
Minturn
Nederland
Oak Creek
Platteville
Rifle
Rocky Ford
Salida
San Luis
Severance
Timnath