'St. Petersburg Times' Sues Over Solicitation Ban

(AP) The St. Petersburg Times has sued the city of St. Petersburg over a street solicitation ban that prohibits vendors from hawking Sunday papers by the roadside.

The city council unanimously passed the ban on Thursday to try to stem a surge in panhandling. It prohibits any transaction between pedestrians and motorists on major streets.

The Times Publishing Co. sued in federal court in Tampa on Monday, calling the ban a violation of its constitutional right to free speech. The Times says about 90 street vendors sell about 7,000 papers every Sunday at busy intersections.