Panhandler arrested, claims to have made $60,000 last year

KOCO.com ^ | Jul 20, 2012 | staff reporter

[Daffynition]

OKLAHOMA CITY -

A man arrested on suspicion of panhandling in Oklahoma City told officers there was no point in getting a job, because he made "$60,000" last year.

According to the police report, an officer spotted Shane Warren Speegle, 45, panhandling near Interstate 40 and Macarthur Boulevard earlier this month.

When the officer approached Speegle and told him it was illegal to panhandle without a permit, Speegle asked if he could get a permit that day and implied the $200 fee was not a bad price.

[cripplecreek]

A far more honest means of making a living that a lot of folks choose.

[KingLudd]

that’s $60k before taxes, social security, insurance, etc.

[nascarnation]

60 grand tax free is decent money in most red states.

But will he pay his fine for not subscribing to BaraqqiCare?

[True Republican Patriot]

” A far more honest means of making a living than a lot of folks choose!”

You can say that again!and far more honest than all Democrats, Liberals, Progressives, Atheists, Homos and Muzzies choose!

[dynachrome]

"that’s $60k before WITHOUT PAYING taxes, social security, insurance, etc."

Wonder if the IRS would be interested in this tax cheat?

[cripplecreek]

The fact that the state forces him to get a permit puts him head and shoulders above the legislators who have chosen to take some of his hard begged money. At least he asks for it.

[nascarnation]

Wonder if the IRS would be interested in this tax cheat?

Only if he's not purchasing Obamacare next year.

[Revolting cat!]

The new, I predict, also temporary CEO of Yahoo, the once hot Stanford chick, I forget her forgettable name, who came from Google, was said to work (at Google) 90 hour weeks (while still having enough time to screw her husband and become pregnant for the first time at 37), and hear this, attend 60 meetings every week! 60 meetings! Who, tell me, was more productive, this workaholic woman, or the panhandler we are discussing?

[M Kehoe]

Mr. Speegle sounds a lot like Timothy Geitner.

5.56mm

[JoeProBono]

[nascarnation]

Well assuming her sperm donor has normal performance capabilities, the getting pregnant part could be handled in 10 minutes or so.

[Huskrrrr]

60K plus probably receiving a government check to boot.

[Revolting cat!]

Heck, a panhandler at a freeway exit could have done it for her!

[DrC]

Most panhandlers I see on Interstate highway exchanges claim to be homeless and/or disabled vets. If this guy scams people in a similar fashion, he should be ashamed of himself. At least he owns up to being lazy, since that’s exactly what he is and it’s unfortunate ignorant citizens allow him to indulge this character flaw. My guess is that his contributions would shrivel to nothing if he were upfront about taking their cash to support this lifestyle as opposed to needing it for a temporary unavoidable emergency.

[pistolpackinpapa]

Oklahoma is known as the most Conservative State in the U.S. Guess this proves that Conservatives are more giving than Liberals. But then, Liberals are only benevolent with other people’s money.

[umgud]

This may be my new retirement plan. Beats the hell out of being a Wal-Mart greeter.

[ParityErr]

Wonder if the IRS would be interested in this tax cheat?

Gifts aren't taxed.

[jstaff]

Add in food stamps, welfare, free medical at the local emergency room, this guy uis making quite a living. Unfortunately he’s DOING IT ON THE BACKS OF THOSE WHO GET UP AND GO TO WORK EVERY DAY. I’ll bet he even has a sign that says, “Homeless, please help. God Bless.” What a sad state of affairs.

[OregonRancher]

This is the sign he showed people:

“$10 more and I can go home to Mexico”

[newzjunkey]

This may be my new retirement plan. Beats the hell out of being a Wal-Mart greeter.

Wal-Mart greeters are an endangered species. Many locations don't have them anymore.

[newzjunkey]

Who, tell me, was more productive, this workaholic woman, or the panhandler we are discussing?

His pursuit was less destructive.

[Blood of Tyrants]

That’s $60k with NO taxes.

[MV=PY]

Does the permit require a photo ID?

[dfwgator]

That’s $60k with NO taxes.

Until now, he should have kept his mouth shut.

[dynachrome]

True, unless he gets a beggar’s license, I guess, and it is officially a “job”.

[djf]

A good lawyer oughta be able to get the “permit” requirement thrown out.

It’s freedom of speech, and a “permit” requirement is a tax.

Can’t tax a right.

Murdock v. Pennsylvania, I forget the exact citation.

[Jim from C-Town]

Well than if Health Insurance is a right, how can they penalize/tax you for not having it?

[woodenickel]

At least he had to show up and do something to earn his keep.

[pallis]

I was watching a panhandler at the Walmart parking lot, and thinking that she was no worse than half of the people in half of the cars there. That’s how many I figured were getting some sort of government aid. At least the panhandler was courteous enough to ask for assistance. Of course, she was probably on aid programs too.

[bgill]

it was illegal to panhandle without a permit

Say what?!?

[BobL]

...so we now arrest people for simply being down on their luck. What a horrible country.

(DNC viewpoint)

[Coldwater Creek]

I-40 and MacArthur is a great area. Brand new shopping and restaurants. I ate at the Panera Bread Co. there a couple of weeks ago. I should have stood on the corner a few minutes and paid for our meal!

[Ted Grant]

This is credible. 50 weeks, 6 days a week, a ten hours day covering both rush hours and lunchtime, that’s $20 an hour.

[Talisker]

The Man with the Twisted Lip

[Graybeard58]

Gifts aren't taxed.

Go on a game show, win some "gifts" and you'll find out differently. Income is taxed, all income, even income gotten illegally is taxable, ask Al Capone. Or more currently, ask George Zimmerman, not illegal in Zimmerman's case but "gifts" and he will pay income tax on it because it is income whether gifted or earned.

[SamAdams76]

Panhandling can be quite lucrative and in fact, "bums" fight for prime spaces in the Boston area (usually median strips in high traffic areas).

There is one panhandler in particular who is quite innovative. He carries a sign saying "I'm not gonna lie, I need money for booze." People can't fill his jar fast enough!

[SamAdams76]

Panhandling can be quite lucrative and in fact, "bums" fight for prime spaces in the Boston area (usually median strips in high traffic areas).

There is one panhandler in particular who is quite innovative. He carries a sign saying "I'm not gonna lie, I need money for booze." People can't fill his jar fast enough!

[Daffynition]

Back, in another lifetime, every day when I got to the top of the stairs, at the Copley Sq. stop off the MTA, there'd be an ancient old lady ....with a very raspy voice, she'd have her gnarled hand extended and greet us all with *Got a dime?* ...one day, feeling very flippant...I mocked her by repeating *Got a dime?* to her....quick as a wink, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of change and offered it to me. Poor college kid that I was, I was tempted ... of course, in those days, you could buy a warm beer at Harvard Square, for a dime.

[Daffynition]

There’s a guide: http://www.wikihow.com/Panhandle

Isn’t the internet great? Thanks Algore.

[Daffynition]

If he’s not careful, he’ll be a 1%er.

[Daffynition]

John Stossel did a special on panhandling

[ParityErr]

I believe anything under $10K or $13K per donation is not taxed.