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The practice of "canning" or "tagging" may soon be a thing of the past in McKeesport.

City council is considering an ordinance that would forbid booster groups, athletic associations and other groups from collecting donations from cars stopped at street corners.

Council President Darryl Segina, who supports such a ban, said at Tuesday's work session that it was a matter of time before someone was struck by a car and seriously injured.

"They've just got to find other ways to raise money," he said.

West Mifflin and North Huntingdon Township already forbid the practice. White Oak requires a permit from the police department to "can" or "tag" on a borough-maintained street, and requires further permission from the state Department of Transportation to "can" or "tag" on a state road.

In McKeesport, the intersection of O'Neil Boulevard and Eden Park Boulevard is particularly popular for "canning" or "tagging."

Mayor Michael Cherepko said that on his suggestion, city police have begun restricting permission to people aged 18 or older. "All of these organizations have faced funding cuts and they're struggling," he said. "I hate to see (can drives) cut altogether."

The idea of an age restriction, along with strict enforcement of safety regulations, has merit, said Councilwoman V. Fawn Walker-Montgomery. "A lot of these organizations have faced cuts either from the state or county," she said. "I hate to see them lose all of that income."

But Segina said age restrictions wouldn't prevent an adult from being struck by a car. "If there's an accident, they're not going to ask whether the person is over 18 before they get hit," he said.

Another ban supporter, Councilman Dan Carr, said that besides presenting a safety hazard, "canners" or "taggers" annoy motorists. "I don't believe anyone should be tagging," he said. "You aggravate people who are driving. They don't hit the brakes --- they hit the gas. No one should be out in the street, no matter what age they are."

Carr, who is active in the city's Lions Club and other charitable organizations, said he was sympathetic to groups who rely on donations, but said they would just "have to work harder."

School programs and activities have been particularly hard hit by the loss of state funds for education, Cherepko said. Parents face a choice of either seeing their children's teams or clubs get cut, or hitting the street to ask for money, he said.

Several councilmembers suggested that groups could be forced to sign waivers accepting responsibility in the event of an accident, but city Solicitor J. Jason Elash said those were unlikely to protect McKeesport from a lawsuit.

A ban on "canning" or "tagging" isn't imminent, although a draft ordinance has been prepared by Elash for council's review.

(Photo by Jeff Werner, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons.)

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