A federal judge has tossed out an ordinance in the
northeast Ohio city of Mentor-on-the-Lake that restricted canvassing in
neighborhoods.
Acting on a lawsuit brought by Ohio Citizen Action,
Judge Donald Nugent in Cleveland said yesterday the ordinance violated the
group's rights to raise funds and of free speech.
Nugent ruled
that the city could not enforce the ordinance and ordered a hearing to
determine damages.
The environmental group sued Mentor-on-the-Lake
last May when the city required the group to get a license, limited its
efforts to daylight hours and required members to be fingerprinted and
photographed.
The city argued it enacted the restrictions to
prevent fraud and crime and to protect residents' privacy.
Panhandlers Now Required To Register In
Cincinnati
