ACLU drops lawsuit after Bolivar repeals panhandling law

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The American Civil Liberties Union has dropped its lawsuit against a southwest Missouri community after it repealed an ordinance restricting panhandling.

The ACLU announced the move Thursday, saying the suit was dismissed voluntarily as part of a settlement with the city of Bolivar.

The ordinance outlawed aggressive panhandling, such as people walking into traffic and knocking on car windows. It also restricted nonverbal or passive panhandling, which local resident Rick Hill argued was a violation of his constitutional rights.

Hill wore a sign around town that said, "I NEED MONEY" after the Bolivar Board of Aldermen approved the ordinance in March. After the board voted last month for repeal, Hill said he was not opposed to the part that banned aggressive panhandling in the town 30 miles north of Springfield, Missouri.