A new sign at one of Collier County’s busiest intersections is catching drivers’ attention not because of its color or size, but because of its message.
“Keep the change. Don’t support panhandling. Give to a local charity,” the sign reads, posted heading north at the intersection of Collier Boulevard and U.S. 41 south. Below it sits a standard “No Trespassing” sign from the Florida Department of Transportation. It’s unclear whether the two are related.
Drivers told Gulf Coast News on Monday that they regularly see people asking for money or selling items while cars are stopped at the light.
“There’s a lot of people standing on the side of the road. Either selling products or asking for money," said one driver.
“It’s bad right here. It’s really bad. It’s a good sign," another added.
Under Collier County’s code, impeding traffic or panhandling in the roadway is illegal and considered a second-degree misdemeanor. Since Jan. 1, there have been four arrests tied to violations of the ordinance, according to the Collier County Sheriff's Office.
Gulf Coast News reached out to both the Florida Department of Transportation and Collier County to find out who put the sign up and whether similar ones exist elsewhere. Neither agency has responded yet.
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