Good Samaritans ticketed for feeding homeless in California

FILE PHOTO:  Lisa Rogers, a homeless woman, packs up to relocate her camp in Los Angeles, California.

Credit: Justin Sullivan

Credit: Justin Sullivan

FILE PHOTO: Lisa Rogers, a homeless woman, packs up to relocate her camp in Los Angeles, California.

No good deed goes unpunished.

Nine well-meaning people in California have found that out after receiving tickets for giving food to the homeless in a park in El Cajon, KNSD reported.

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It all started Sunday, when volunteers gathered in Wells Park to give clothes, food and toiletries to the homeless.

Police stepped in, accusing those giving the handouts of violating the city's municipal code. The law prohibits food sharing in public places like a park, KNSD reported.

In October, the city council passed the ordinance restricting food sharing to combat a hepatitis A outbreak.

Signs were posted at the park in November.

El Cajon police gave citations to all who were helping the homeless, including a 14-year-old, KNSD reported.