Injunction Issued on Colorado Springs’ Panhandling Ban

A federal district court judge has issued a preliminary injunction against Colorado Springs’ new panhandling ordinance. The rules were set to go into effect tomorrow. The city passed the ordinance in late November on a vote of 8-1, prompting a challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU.

In a statement, ACLU Legal Director Mark Silverstein said they were “delighted” with the injunction, and are “relieved the Court agreed that the First Amendment does not allow Colorado Springs to outlaw our clients’ peaceful, non-threatening communications.”

A statement from the city says the Court recognized the reasons behind the ordinance as being in the public interest. City Attorney Chris Melcher says they’ll review the written ruling when it’s issued, but that they still believe the ordinance is constitutional.