Panhandlers squeezed in northern Calif. town

(CBS) WOODLAND, Calif. - Beggars can't be choosers anymore in the northern California community of Woodland.

Amid rising complaints about panhandlers' increasingly aggressive behavior, their territory is being restricted, CBS Sacramento reports.

"It gets worse every month. It gets worse and worse and worse," resident Dannielle Parker told the station. "There's even been a couple with two kids out in this heat, and it's just like 'guys, get those kids inside.' "

"When I got in my car, my window was down and (a panhandler) put his hand in and scared me to death," said resident Denise Olson. "He wanted some money and I said I didn't have any, and I did but he scared me to death."

In response to these and similar instances, Woodland's city council unanimously passed a new ordinance banning begging in several public places, including outside of restaurants, and near banks and ATM machines.

The measure also prohibits panhandlers from approaching vehicles, whether parked or stopped at an intersection.

Woodland's new panhandling ordinance is scheduled to take effect August 1.