Last night the Dubuque City Council has passed a recommended ordinance making it illegal to occupy roadway medians and roundabouts in Dubuque.
Dubuque Police Chief Jeremy Jensen said the new law will make the community safer after getting daily complaints of panhandlers on busy streets.
Jensen said occupying the median of busy roads puts pedestrians and drivers closer to an accident.
The ordinance goes beyond panhandling, banning pedestrians from occupying the medians of high-speed roadways altogether.
Under the ordinance, police can fine people found in roadway medians up to $750 for the first offense and $1,000 for every following violation.
