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While I've not seen any "Off Rampers" wearing expensive tennies, I have seen many smoking (a pretty expensive habit for someone who's begging) and I've also witnessed one guy get into his car (a beater, at least) and drive off...home?...somewhere.
My point is - these guys count on people with attitudes like "cantdrv55," knowing that a certain segment of the population will feel sorry for them and give them a couple of bucks. It obviously happens often enough to be a viable way to exist. Maybe not the best use of your time, but a living nonetheless.
If nobody gave, the panhandlers would slowly go somewhere new. Or, you could do it like Malibu, CA does - police escort out of the city. Cruel? Maybe. But pretty effective. Just ask anyone on the bum-clotted streets of Santa Monica, Malibu's neighbor.
This problem won't ever be solved by small currency exchanges at freeway off ramps.
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