City Council members voted on Wednesday to outlaw panhandling and those who hand out cards from escort agencies at the Fremont Street Experience pedestrian mall.
The action was meant to replace a previous ordinance addressing the same issue that was thrown out of court last month by an appeals court which deemed it unconstitutional.
Citing complaints from merchants about panhandlers and men who hand out cards with scantily-clad women who provide out-call services, the city voted unanimously to them and others who hawk cheap goods to tourists and mall visitors.
But Gary Peck, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, complained that his organization would file a legal challenge against the measures. Peck said the ordinances were unconstitutional and a violation of free speech guarantees in the First Amendment.
But City Attorney Brad Jerbic said the new measures would pass a legal challenge, adding that the ordinance clearly defines the actions forbidden, whereas a previous similar ordinance deemed unconstitutional by the courts did not.
The ordinances were approved in quick succession because of complaints about men handing out cards for escort or out-call services.
But some Fremont Street officials said they had not seen an increase in panhandling or escort service peddlers there, though Jeff Victor, mall president, said he has seen more people from religious groups promoting their organizations.
