LOS ANGELES AIRPORT OFFICIALS TO APPEAL COURT DECISION BARRING SOLICITATION ORDINANCE; AIRPORT TO ESTABLISH INTERIM "TIME, PLACE, MANNER" REGULATIONS

(Los Angeles, California -- August 28, 2001) The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners today directed the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office/Airports Division to appeal a recent federal court decision that prevents the implementation and enforcement of a 1997 City ordinance barring charitable, religious, or political organizations from soliciting and receiving funds at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The Commission also instructed airport officials to establish interim regulations on the "time, place, and manner" in which solicitors operate in LAX's passenger terminals, parking areas and curbsides.

The announcement was made following a closed session with legal counsel during the Commission's regularly scheduled public meeting today. The appeal would be filed before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

On August 2, U.S. District Judge Consuelo B. Marshall ruled that the 1997 ordinance violates Liberty of Speech rights under the California Constitution. A similar regulation at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York was held to be valid under the U.S. Constitution First Amendment by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1992.

Airport officials have argued that solicitation activities are annoying and distracting to airport travelers and security personnel, increase pedestrian congestion in the terminals, cause many passengers to complain of fraud, and interfere with the business interests of airport tenants. Also, the City ordinance does not ban all solicitation, such as speaking with travelers about any subject or distributing literature.

(NSC - 8/28/01)