Banished panhandlers move into Richmond - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News

The panhandlers who were recently banished from Henrico County don't plan on going away - instead, they are relocating.

One of those panhandlers goes by the name 'D' - his first initial. He's too embarrassed to tell us his full name.

"Richmond seems to be more lax than the county," D said Wednesday.

Beside him is his wife, 'L'.

ANDY: "So they've [police] come up to you and explained what the new law is, I guess?"

L: "Yeah, just no standing and sitting in the median."

Rather than run afoul of the new law in Henrico, 'D' and 'L' packed up and moved into Richmond. But so far, the money just hasn't been the same.

"It's not as good, the people just aren't as friendly out here as they are in Henrico for some reason," D said.

The changes began Tuesday night. Henrico County supervisors approved a new ordinance banning standing or sitting on roadway medians, giving the county one of the strictest anti-panhandling laws in the region.

Rather than issue fines, for the next several weeks Henrico Police officers will instead educate panhandlers on the new rules. They're even hailing cabs so panhandlers can get a free ride to places that offer help.

"The police, the mentality of Chief [Doug] Middleton isn't to necessarily do away with these individuals. It's to get them help," said Jonathan Trainum, owner of Napoleon Taxi.

But back in Richmond, help for these panhandlers is occasionally replaced by a heckler.

ANDY: "When somebody yells J-O-B at you, what does that make you feel?"

HECKLER: "J-O-B, Get A Job!  J-O-B."

TESSA: "Doesn't make me feel anything."

HECKLER: "I see you laughing, smiling, reporter...get a job!"

For 'D', though, it won't make a difference. For now, Richmond, will be his new part-time home.

"I'm not gonna do anything that's illegal. I'm not going to risk breaking the law and getting in trouble over something," D said.

None of the popular Henrico intersections had panhandlers during the lunch hour Wednesday. Police expect to be out for weeks looking for people who may not be aware of the new rules.

Henrico's new panhandling ordinance governs only the medians of county roadways. It does not include language that pertains to sidewalks.

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