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Published: 2012-04-11 10:51:00
Updated: 2012-04-11 10:51:00

Posted: April 11, 2012

Johnston cracking down on panhandlers

panhandling

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Smithfield, N.C. — Johnston County authorities said Wednesday that they are stepping up enforcement of the county's new panhandling regulations.

The county Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance in January requiring people to get a panhandling permit through the sheriff's office. People applying for a permit must undergo a criminal background check and have a photo identification.

Authorities said fewer than 10 people have obtained permits since then.

Deputies have handed out copies of the ordinance to beggars over the past three months, but Sheriff Steve Bizzell said the time has come to start citing and fining people for violations.

Copyright 2012 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

32 Comments


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Latest Comments
Great, now they will migrate to Wake county and take over the rest of the intersections up and down 540!
C6-YA
April 11, 2012 7:04 p.m.
why would you have photo Id if you are pan handling. These are many of the same people that you say do not have a photo id when it comes to voting. No visable means of support not way to buy and ID
sunshine1040
April 11, 2012 6:29 p.m.
finally, im tired of beggers
jeff27577
April 11, 2012 5:46 p.m.
If these beggers can stand up and hold signs then they can certainly work. They get NOTHING from me and never will.
devilblue
April 11, 2012 5:27 p.m.
fouroaksboy - your comment is ridiculous -

No way someone thinks this way. Possibly obama12's new id?
Click to view my profile ncouterbanks69
April 11, 2012 4:53 p.m.
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