CLAYTON — A St. Louis County councilman plans to introduce a measure that would prohibit panhandling on roadways, a move that has been struck down before as a violation of free speech rights.

Republican Councilman Mike Archer, of unincorporated south St. Louis County, said his measure will focus on public safety instead of panhandling in the hopes it could survive a legal challenge.

"It's more of the safety aspect of it that we are focusing on," Archer said. "Then a judge is probably going to balance that with the First Amendment."

Archer said he has heard of a handful of instances in which homeless people were injured when panhandling in local roadways. He said he was not sure when he would introduce a bill to the rest of the council, which meets Tuesday evening.

Archer acknowledged h

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