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Senators differ over roadside fundraising ban

Sen. Faletagoai Tuiolemotu has suggested strengthening the current law banning roadside funding raising by giving police the authority to arrest violators but Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie reminded senators that American Samoa is a small community and there are organizations that benefits from this type of fundraising.

 

Faletagoai suggestions followed concerns raised by Sen. Alo Fa’auuga who asking during the Senate session for the Senate Public Safety Committee to look into the issue of roadside funding raising as there is current law prohibiting this type of activity.

 

Alo says he is concerned when people in these fund raising groups get into the middle of the road to collect dollar bills thrown out the window of a moving vehicle and this may cause some serious problems soon, when someone gets hurt.

 

He says this creates hazards on the highway and the Public Safety Committee should make contact with the Department of Public Safety to ensure local laws are enforced.

 

Faletagoai, who is a committee chairman, says this is not a new issue and has been raised in the past and he believes the current law is weak and this is the reason why police are unable to curb violators of the law.

 

He further believes allowing police to arrest violators in order to put a stop the problem should strengthen the law. Because the law originated from the Fono several years ago, he believes the Fono should also be the one to put through the necessary proposal to amend the law.

 

Sen. Nua Saoluaga requested that Faletagoai, as committee chairman, initiate the move to amend the law by introducing appropriate legislation so that senators can actually debate the pros and cons of such proposal.

 

Gaoteote offered a solution, saying that if you see someone violating the law — call police and tell them what’s happening on the road. He also says that this is American Samoa and these fund raisers help organizations and groups with their future plans.

 

And if you don’t want to donate, Gaoteote suggested, “just roll up your windows and driver through slowly.” He also suggested that the committee chairman contact DPS and ask them to visit the site of fundraisers violating current laws, to prevent anyone from being injured.

 

The law banning roadside fundraising went into effect about 14 years ago and prohibits anyone from standing, dancing or sitting on the roadside. Fund raising is, however, allowed as long as it’s held about 25 feet from the curbside but there shall be no music.

 

The law came at the height of so many roadside fundraisers between 1996-1999 causing trafficking jams on the main road. At times there were several groups or organizations holding roadside fund raisings, which senators in 1999 describes as “begging for a dollar.”

 

The late Sen. Matautia Tuiafono, who spearheaded the bill to ban roadside fundraising along with then Sen. Atuatasi Talosaga, told Samoa News in 1999 that this type of activity is nothing more “than begging. It’s a very ugly and embarrassing habit.”