To some, they are symptomatic of a society in crisis. To others, they are simply freeloaders looking to take advantage of the gullible.
However you look at them, panhandlers are not a problem to be swept under the carpet; not a “nothing-to-see-here, folks.” They are all-too visible, particularly camped out on the medians of busy roads,where they pose a genuine danger not only to themselves but to motorists likely to be dangerously distracted by their appeals for cash.
People who would like to ignore the phenomenon are finding it increasingly difficult – even in our highly insulated Semiahmoo Peninsula, where pockets of panhandling are increasingly evident, particularly on roads like King George Boulevard and 24 Avenue.
The City of Surrey has been cracking down on the practice after complaints spiked this summer. Fines have been handed out – $80 a time.
Meanwhile, police treat it as a safety issue, encouraging panhandlers to move along, and issuing a violation ticket as a last resort. As Surrey
Cpl. Elenore Sturko has stated, “we are mindful that these individuals are conducting themselves in this manner due to personal issues.”
Police are nothing if not realists in their challenge to enforce laws, and for them to think this way, based on experience, is a clear acknowledgment of the existence of societal ills that cannot be solved by simplistic ‘get-a-job’ arguments.
Even if every panhandler was a con-artist, the success of that con must be based on a prevalent perception that there are people who are genuinely disadvantaged and falling through the cracks of our system.
Although it is true there are services available, accessing them might seem easier said than done.
Meanwhile, and for the shorter term, we rely on city engineers to come up with some solution to address the esthetics of the situation – possibly fencing on medians will provide a permanent discouragement to panhandlers.
And we encourage those in need to reach out to those officials and non-profit societies willing to help – but well off our roadways.
SEE MORE: PAN poll – Have you ever given money to a panhandler on a street median?
