Judge: Charities, religious groups have right to solicit at L.A. airport

By The Associated Press

06.01.98

Printer-friendly page

LOS ANGELES — Charities and religious groups have the right to solicit donations at Los Angeles International Airport, a judge ruled.

U.S. district court Judge John G. Davies said a city ordinance banning such solicitations is illegal under the California Constitution.

The city has adopted numerous regulations and ordinances to keep solicitors out of the airport.

Officials say the solicitors are a nuisance and a security problem because they harass passengers, cause traffic jams and distract people's attention from their carry-on baggage, among other problems.

But civil liberties lawyers have successfully challenged the city's efforts.

The legal challenge that led to Friday's ruling was brought by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which obtained a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement a day before the law was to have gone into effect last year.

Davies said there was some merit to the city's concerns, but the ordinance went too far.

Under California law, the government may impose "time, place and manner restrictions" on free speech in public places, but only "without regard to content," Davies wrote.

By banning only one form of free speech — the solicitation of donations — and permitting other forms, the city ordinance discriminates on the basis of content.

Davies said the airport could resolve its security concerns in less restrictive ways.

The Airport Department could bar the solicitors from areas that tend to become overcrowded or restrict the hours during which they solicit, he said.

Update

Federal judge strikes down L.A. law barring donation-seekers at airport
City officials argue airport already is congested, solicitors pose safety hazard by distracting travelers.  08.08.01