Augusta-Richmond officials take hard line on panhandlers

AUGUSTA - Augusta-Richmond County authorities will arrest panhandlers who ask for money in downtown Augusta, a policy that has civil rights groups upset. <br> <br> Major Ken Autry of the Richmond County Sheriff&#39;s Office said Monday that deputies would stop only aggressive panhandlers. Tuesday, however, the sheriff&#39;s office said anyone begging for money would be arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. <br> <br> The ordinance covers ``any person loitering ... for certain purposes, including begging.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Autry said Wednesday that no arrests have been made so far. He said the policy will go into effect this weekend. <br> <br> The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia said it&#39;s another example of authorities making it a crime to be homeless. <br> <br> The executive director of the ACLU of Georgia, Debbie Seagraves, said ``Their panhandling may be a nuisance, but it certainly shouldn&#39;t be criminalized. As adults, we have the ability to say yes or no. What if I had a flat tire and I came up and asked a stranger to help me? There is nothing criminal in asking.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The sheriff&#39;s office defended the crackdown as a reaction to complaints that vagrants have recently become aggressive in their tactics. The move also comes after five street people were linked to a string of break-ins and thefts in the downtown area.