Airport money-raising ban ruled constitutional

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

SAN FRANCISCO -- Banning groups such as the Hare Krishnas and any other private citizen from asking for money at an airport is a constitutional way to keep travelers from being bothered, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

The court upheld a Los Angeles ordinance that makes it illegal to ask for money on the sidewalks and in the terminals of Los Angeles International Airport. The case was closely followed by airport officials in San Francisco, who allow people with permits to solicit only at two "free speech zones" in the terminals.

"We're gratified that the Supreme Court gave airports freedom to protect undue harassment of travelers and also help ensure airport security," said Deputy City Attorney Danny Chou, who represented San Francisco in the case.

He said he expects officials at San Francisco International Airport to study the ruling and decide whether to propose a ban on soliciting money.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/25/BA5V1CLCD5.DTL&tsp=1

to be all over my area,including the airport.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qse_wf57tZM

Back when I was a kid Terminal 3 was the worst, from the time you reached the bottom of the escalator going to the baggage claim that hallway was full of every sort of loser you could imagine from Charles Manson supporters to the Hare Krishna to Jehovahs Witnesses to Black Israelites.

Although the free speech booths at SFO are a fucking riot, especially when the Ron Paul freaks get in fights with Lyndon LaRouche freaks.

going down this stupid hallway my parents would order me to stare at the floor as we ran the gantlet of cult solicitors,

As soon as you got off your plane, you would be accosted by 100's of people asking for money and offering to help you - and then demanding that you pay them. They outnumbered the airport staff by ten to one. Hope they can clean it up. It had nothing to do with free speech, they were trying to scam tourists out of money!

It seems most of the schemers now confine themselves to the international terminal,