CITY OF LOS ANGELES TO IMPLEMENT "TIME, PLACE, MANNER" REGULATIONS ON SOLICITATION AT LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
(Los Angeles, California – September 29, 2006) Airport officials will begin their implementation Sunday, Oct. 1, of the Los Angeles City ordinance regulating the "time, place and manner" in which individuals and organizations can solicit and immediately receive funds at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for charitable purposes.
Between Oct. 1 and Oct. 14, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) will notify solicitors of the requirement to possess a solicitation permit issued by the airport authority and begin enforcement of the regulation starting Oct. 15. LAWA will begin accepting permit applications beginning Monday, Oct. 2.
Under the ordinance, solicitors must apply for a permit from airport officials to conduct their solicitation activities from designated areas located in each of the airport's nine passenger terminals. The ordinance does not restrict other forms of communication, such as speaking with travelers about any subject or distributing literature, so long as funds are not solicited and immediately received.
The ordinance was signed into law in December 2002. However, a federal judge prevented its enforcement through a preliminary injunction issued during litigation brought by an organization opposed to it. At that time, U.S. District Court Judge Consuelo Marshall deemed the ordinance’s solicitation restrictions potentially unconstitutional. On Sept. 18, Judge Marshall vacated the injunction she issued three years ago.
Airport officials praised the judge’s new opinion that described the ordinance "reasonable and viewpoint neutral" by not singling out any one group.
In her opinion Judge Marshall wrote, "The ordinance is justified as, among other things, an effort to reduce congestion at the airport, increase security and prevent passengers from being a captive audience."
Under the ordinance, LAWA has established 18 designated areas located in the Upper/Departure and Lower/Arrival Levels in each of the terminals. The use of the 18 designated areas will be equitably allocated on a first-come, first-served basis following airport officials' review and approval of written applications. Under the ordinance the free permits are issued for 30-day periods and are valid only for specific dates, times, terminal locations and the number of solicitors granted by the permit. Each permit will contain this specific information and must be displayed by the solicitor while conducting solicitation activities.
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Airfield Permits Section will issue and administer the permits, and Los Angeles Airport Police will enforce the regulations.
The ordinance requires the organization to provide LAWA with a description and purpose of its proposed activities, contact information about the soliciting organization, and copies of a valid Information Card issued by the Los Angeles Police Department's Social Service Section of the Commission Investigation Division and of its tax-exempt status under state and federal law.
To obtain a permit application and additional program information, please contact LAWA Airfield Permits at (310) 215-5464 or write to Airfield Permits Unit, Los Angeles World Airports, P.O. Box 92216, Los Angeles, CA 90009-2216.
