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1. What are the panhandling laws in DeLand?

Panhandling is prohibited at "high-risk" intersections within the City of DeLand. The nine locations were designated as high-risk following a study conducted by the DeLand Police Department. In 2022, city commissioners amended the panhandling ordinance to include the (9) intersections after police found excessive accidents with many involving pedestrians. 

Aggressive panhandling is prohibited within the City of DeLand. Click here to learn more about the city’s ordinance.

2. What is panhandling?

Per DeLand ORD. 21-29(a)(3) - Panhandle means to ask for, demand or solicit money, gifts or donations, either by words, bodily gestures, signs or other means. The terms panhandle, solicit and beg are synonymous in meaning. Panhandling is any solicitation made in person, requesting an immediate donation of money or other thing of value. Purchase of an item for an amount far exceeding its normal market value, under circumstances where a reasonable person would understand that the purchase is, in substance, a donation, is a donation for the purpose of this section. Panhandling does not include passively standing or sitting with a sign or other indication that one is seeking donations at a location not prohibited by this section and not in a manner prohibited by this section.

3. What does the term 'aggressive' mean when it comes to panhandling?

Per DeLand ORD. 21-29(a)(1) - Aggressive means and includes, but is not limited to, approaching or following pedestrians, repetitive soliciting of a person despite refusals by the person, the use of abusive or profane language to cause fear and intimidation to a person, unwanted physical contact to a person, the intentional blocking of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, the touching or causing physical contact with a solicited person without that person's consent or threatening to make such contact, the intentional blocking of the entrance to any building or vehicle, the following behind, ahead or alongside a person who walks away from a solicitor after being solicited with the intent to intimidate or continue solicitation, the approaching of a solicited person in a manner that is intended to or is likely to cause a reasonable person to fear imminent bodily harm or the commission of a criminal act upon property in the person's possession or is intended to or is likely to intimidate a reasonable person into responding affirmatively to the solicitation; or the soliciting of a person while the solicitor is under the influence of alcohol or drugs in a manner which disrupts the peace. Aggressive also includes, but is not limited to, solicitation of a person while the solicitor is acting in a manner while committing an assault, by committing a battery, or in a manner which violates the provisions of this section.

4. Where are the high-risk intersections?

Panhandling of any kind is now prohibited within 50 feet of the following intersections:
 
 - Woodland Boulevard/United States Highway 17 and Violet wood Road
 - Woodland Boulevard/United States Highway 17 and Old Daytona Street
 - Woodland Boulevard/United States Highway 17 and United States Highway 92
 - United States Highway 92 and Amelia Avenue
 - Woodland Boulevard/United States Highway 17 and Plymouth Avenue
 - Woodland Boulevard/United States Highway 17 and Beresford Avenue
 - Woodland Boulevard/United States Highway 17 and Orange Camp Road
 - New York Avenue and State Road 15A
 - Woodland Boulevard/United States Highway 17 and State Road 15A

5. What type of enforcement is in place?

Signage will be placed at each intersection. It will read as follows: PANHANDLING PROHIBITED WITHIN 50 FEET OF THIS INTERSECTION – DeLand ORD. 21-29(b)(7)

We ask all motorists to refrain from giving any money to persons who may approach them at these intersections.

6. If I donate to this initiative, where will my money go?

One hundred percent of funds given through this campaign will go to the Neighborhood Center of West Volusia to be used for homelessness prevention services. 

When giving to panhandlers, there is no guarantee where that money will go.