LAKEPORT, Calif. – An ordinance the Lakeport City Council approved in June to address aggressive panhandling has gone into effect, with city officials planning to begin enforcement.

After final passage and adoption by the Lakeport City Council, City of Lakeport Ordinance 907 (2016) regulating solicitation has been added to the Lakeport Municipal Code, according to Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
 
The purpose and intent of this ordinance, which is Chapter 5.24 in the Lakeport Municipal Code, is to regulate solicitation in the city to allow residents to protect their peace and tranquility, to allow the free and safe flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and to deter fraud and other criminal behavior, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said it's the ordinance's intent to respect the rights of free expression guaranteed under the California and United States Constitutions; to constitute reasonable, content-neutral, time, place and manner restrictions; and to impose the smallest burden on expressive activity necessary to accomplish the objectives of this ordinance. 
 
Religious and political activities are excluded from this ordinance to provide greater protection for such expressive activity as required by previous judicial decisions, he said.
 
The ordinance will apply to both individuals and groups who wish to solicit in the city of Lakeport, according to Rasmussen.

Prior to conducting any solicitation all persons or groups will be required to obtain a permit through the Lakeport Police Department. Rasmussen said there is no charge for the permit. 

The full ordinance can be found at http://www.cityoflakeport.com/docs/907-(2016)-83201680358PM.pdf .

For more information on how to acquire a permit, contact the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491.