Norfolk, Va. - Norfolk firefighters are asking drivers to fill the boot. The money collected in this annual fundraiser goes to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
And this is perfectly legal. The firefighters have a permit from the city. It turns out, they are one of only four groups that do. Last week, City Councilman Tommy Smiegel said he's fielded concerns about kids in traffic looking for cash.
“A lot of complaints have been coming in about the young children on football teams begging for money in the medians,” says Smiegel.
Mayor Paul Fraim says he's seen it, too.
“Sunday, at the corner of Colley and Colonial, there were two young boys in uniform. They couldn't have been third or fourth graders. There was not an adult in sight. And they were walking up to cars and holding out their helmets,” says Fraim.
This week, the city council will hear that there are only four groups that have filled out this permit to collect donations from drivers.
The Muhammad Mosque, a company called "Resource King," Campostella Athletics, and the firefighters’ MDA.
And according to the city, kids are never allowed to collect money in traffic.
“If they are out on the medians, police need to stop and they need to say, you can't do this,” says Smiegel.
