The State vs. Works of Mercy

As the state continues to metastasize, one of the things it does is horn in on private initiatives to care for the poor.  A reader writes:

I volunteer down here in Houston for an organization that has for years worked to get sandwiches out to they guys waiting for jobs during the day. (The sandwiches are lovingly made by local parishes) Yesterday, I got pulled over by a cop for doing just this. Apparently, a law just passed requiring a permit to give out food. One of the properties near one of our stops complained about us being out there. The cop was the biggest jerk I’ve seen in a long time. He said something like “I don’t have a problem with what you’re doing, but you need to spread the word of God somewhere else,” ( I was wearing my ‘This is my Catholic shirt’) He threatened to arrest me if I was seen on the property again. Anyway, I was reminded of the story of the woman who was arrested in Pennsylvania for handing out food. It seems laws that make it hard to be charitable are cropping up all over the country.

Yeah, Bloomberg has done this too.  Is this happening elsewhere?  Anyone?  Bueller?