Page 6 - JAN 2020 proof 1 The Castle Pines Connection

R6 edirecting generosity to help panhandlers Reprinted from The Connection, January 2018 issue
CastlePinesConnection.com
21 is the new
18 for nicotine
products
By Terri Wiebold
Colorado is one of only 12 states
that does not require licensing of tobacco retailers, and current state law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to minors under the age of 18. The City of Castle Pines recently passed an ordinance which imposes licensing requirements on tobacco retailers and raises the legal sales age for tobacco products from 18 to 21.
According to city sta , the primary goal of the ordinance was to prevent access to tobacco and nicotine products by minors.
“I’m just glad we’re doing this,” stated Councilmember Deborah Mulvey.
“I think we’re being bold and we’re doing what is necessary.”
In addition to raising the legal age to 21, this ordinance prohibits tobacco retailers from locating within 500 feet of a youth-centered facility like a park, school or recreation center.
According to the Tri-County Health Department, 41% of high school students in Douglas County reported purchasing vaping products from a gas station or convenience store, and 52% accessed vaping products from another source such as family, friends or the black market.
The use of e-cigarettes and vaping has been linked to cases of severe lung injuries across the country, including Colorado, and the rising popularity of vaping has increased the risk of youth addiction to tobacco and nicotine.
To combat these health issues and
to decrease tobacco and nicotine addiction rates, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Tri-County
Health Department recommended the adoption and active enforcement of local regulations directed at retailers.
Other recommended actions included prohibiting the sale of avored tobacco products or avored vaping products. City Council deemed this to be “too restrictive on the choice of persons over the age of 21” and opted to omit that regulation from its ordinance.
To read Ordinance No. 19-18 in its entirety, visit https://www. castlepinesco.gov/.
Editor’s note: In light of the recent activity
of panhandlers seen in and around the King Soopers shopping center, as well as the many conversations taking place on various social media platforms, The Connection is reprinting an article that ran in January 2018 dealing with the same topic. The article has been updated to re ect current information.
Whether called a “drifter,” “beggar,” “transient,” or “panhandler,” walking past anyone asking for money can be awkward. People are sympathetic, but they may also be embarrassed by the public request. Regardless if people look away and ignore the person or if they give money, it can be unsettling, especially when it happens close to home. The Castle Pines community
is generous and open to helping those in need, but with an increase in the number of people begging, it is di cult to know if giving money, which feels like the right behavior, is perhaps the wrong response.
Heartstrings are increasingly tugged when families, including children and pets, are outside of local businesses. With stories that are often convoluted and make little sense, it is hard to tell if these people are genuinely in need or if they are scamming altruistic souls. Taking a responsible and compassionate approach is the best way to handle the situation, which, in this instance, means contacting the non-emergency number of the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce (DCSO).
Throughout Douglas County, the DCSO receives calls about panhandlers and homeless people. DCSO deputies assigned to Castle Pines note that transients know to stop in this community because residents give them money and pay for food.
Public Information O cer Lauren Lekander explained that when the DCSO receives a call, o cers respond to the area in an attempt to locate the subject. If found, deputies will ask the person questions, such as where are they from, where
are they going, what are they doing here, etc., all while ascertaining the mental status of the person. Depending upon the circumstances, the person may be o ered a ride to where they are going. If a person indicates an interest in resources or help, there are ways the DCSO can assist. As long as no illegal activity is happening, the DCSO will typically leave them alone. If businesses and citizens keep calling, however, the individual(s) may be asked to move. Of course, if there is
any illegal activity, the person may be cited or arrested.
“O cers can provide panhandlers with resources; however, resources are not always o ered,” said Lekander. “Oftentimes a person says they are just on their way from one location to another and stopped for a break. If they do not appear to be
in need of assistance or medical attention, it is not typically forced on them.”
It is important to note that asking for money or panhandling is a violation of a county ordinance; however, homelessness in itself is not a crime.