A second Southern Oregon city has taken action against beggars.

The Medford City Council voted 6-1 Thursday to regulate solicitation. Beginning Jan. 1, panhandlers won't be allowed to ask for money at intersections with traffic signals.

In October, Roseburg became the first Oregon city to ban motorists who are driving from donating to panhandlers, who often inhabit off-ramps from freeways and other intersections.

The Medford ordinance also prohibits abusive solicitation such as persistent soliciting after a person says no, blocking passage, following or touching a person being solicited, or using threatening words or gestures while soliciting. It also prohibits soliciting on private property without permission, within 50 feet of an ATM, in public transportation vehicles, in public parking lots, or at admission lines of five or more people.

Ralph Temple of the American Civil Liberties Union said the activities in the law, such as impeding traffic and menacing, already are illegal, but the city can't prohibit free speech, such as asking for money.

"You just have to put up with unwanted speech," he said.

Several residents supported the measure.

"There's a problem out there with panhandling and these types of people in general," said Jody Fleming. "This is definitely not a beautification of the city."

Councilman John Statler, the lone dissenting vote, said he wasn't convinced the ordinance was legal and thought it would lead to expensive litigation.

Council member Jill Stout said drivers should stop handing out cash. "It would just be so much better if those who were giving were just giving to an organization," she said.