St. Johns County to stop enforcing panhandling ordinance after settling lawsuit with 3 men arrested

Two Florida civil rights organizations have secured a $90,000 settlement in their federal lawsuit challenging St. Johns County’s controversial panhandling ordinance, with attorneys telling News4JAX that county officials agreed to cease enforcement of the ordinance. The lawsuit, which challenged the constitutionality of the 2023 panhandling ordinance, was filed after reportedly dozens of individuals were cited and some arrested for soliciting near roadways. Two of the detained individuals were plaintiffs in the case.