Is it me or is anyone else out there annoyed by the street-intersection solicitors asking for money to help this worthy cause or that one?

This rant comes courtesy of long-time Amarillo resident PattiLou Dawkins — who told me I could use her name if I posted a blog on this subject.

Well, I am and I will.

I happen to agree with PattiLou’s rant about these solicitors. They annoy the daylights out of me — and I believe they pose a potentially significant traffic safety risk during peak traffic times.

PattiLou told me today of an encounter she had at the corner of 45th Avenue and Coulter Street.

Some folks were standing on the median asking for money. A motorist nearby was fumbling through his pocket, unhooked his safety belt, and gave the guy some cash. He also dropped his bottle of water. He got out of his vehicle and chased down the runaway water bottle, returned to his vehicle and took off. The motorist, PattiLou said, did all this with traffic whizzing by.

Various charitable and philanthropic organizations get permission from the city stand in these intersections. I am more than willing to give money when it’s feasible. However, I usually find more than a little unfeasible to do so while I’m at the wheel of either of my vehicles.

Why is that? Well, I hate fumbling through my pockets for loose currency, unbuckling my seat belt in the process and then stopping while I have the green light to make a left turn, all of which holds up the individual behind me, possibly annoying him or her; and in these times, you never know who’s packin’, correct?

So, I’ll leave it at that.

If I have the cash on me — and if there’s no one behind me — I just might stop for a moment to give a buck or two.