Newspaper Vendors in the Streets

Mar 2nd, 2004

Should any vendors or solicitors be allowed to walk in traffic to collect donations or sell newspapers in city streets? That's a question facing members of Mobile’s City Council. The question arose after one newspaper vendor was killed and months later another one was injured while selling newspapers at the intersection of Airport Blvd. and Azalea Road.

The Council's Public Safety Committee members want to know which city intersections are the most dangerous; an analysis of the criteria used in making those designations; what can be done to make all solicitations in the city's streets safer; and whether it’s safe to have any form of solicitation in the streets. City of Mobile Public Safety Director, Dick Cashdollar will bring that information back to the committee in 30 days.

Since 1993 the City of Mobile has had an agreement with the Mobile Register to allow newspaper vendors to sell papers at all intersections. The Register hires independent contractors who in turn hire vendors to sell the papers. While other groups that solicit for money like the Girl Scouts or school groups are required to get permits from the police department, newspaper vendors get a city license to do business. Permits don’t allow charitable groups to work in intersections the police department deems too busy and dangerous. But, newspaper vendors can-- and do-- work these intersections.

Mobile Register Publisher Howard Bronson told committee members if they restrict vendors from working in the busy intersections, some of the 40 vendors might lose their jobs. Bronson says busy intersections like Airport and Azalea are where the vendors make the most money. He says they are trained to walk into traffic at the beginning of intersections when the light is red; walk down the line of stopped cars; and get out of the street when traffic at the light begins moving. Vendors wear reflective vests, and have liability and health insurance provided by the contractor. To keep the vendors selling at all intersections, Bronson says the Register is willing to put up a $1-million insurance policy to make sure the City is not held liable for any injuries to vendors due to selling in the streets.

Council members say their aim is not to put anyone out of a job. They say they want to protect citizens and not put them in harm’s way unnecessarily.