Police stop enforcing Youngstown's begging ordinance

YOUNGSTOWN — The police department was told today it can no longer enforce the city’s begging ordinance because of a 2013 court ruling that a similar ordinance in Michigan is unconstitutional because it violates First Amendment rights.

Staff Inspector Lt. Brian Butler said the department was informed today by the city Law Department that it can no longer enforce the ordinance because of the court ruling in the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

A story on the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio complaint filed with the city about the ordinance appears in today's Vindicator.

Butler said the edict will be passed on to commanders of each of the department’s three shifts in the Patrol Division so it can be passed onto patrol officers.

Butler said the department will still issue citations for disorderly conduct to people who are particularly disruptive if they are engaging in that type of behavior.