St. Charles Repeals Panhandling Ban

ST. CHARLES, IL — The St. Charles City Council voted last week to repeal its ban on panhandling following a court ruling that has deemed such restrictions are unconstitutional.

St. Charles Police Chief James Keagan said the court order applies only to parties related to the litigation but any enforcement of such laws could lead to "legal challenges seeking inductive relief, monetary damages and attorneys' fees for violations of First Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution," according to the Kane County Chronicle. Those challenges could

A federal court in Illinois ruled the state's panhandling law was unconstitutional last year. That ruling came after two panhandlers in Downers Grove filed a federal lawsuit arguing panhandling wasn't allowed, but residents could apply for a permit to allow them to stand in medians and hand out literature or collect political signatures, the Kane County Chronicle is reporting.

More via the Kane County Chronicle