Q: Mr. Federal Way, there are a lot of panhandlers out these days. If panhandling cannot be controlled/banned because it is a right to free speech, can people who contribute to panhandlers at busy intersections be fined or ticketed for obstructing traffic? If people are discouraged from giving them money and their revenue stream suffers, the panhandlers will go away, right?

A: Mr. Federal Way would first like to say thank you for looking at the panhandling issue from a different angle than is usually presented when talking about panhandlers. Earlier this year, Mr. Federal Way was asked if the city was just going to get rid of them and that just seems somewhat mean.

There always seems to be an increase in people outside when the weather gets nice, so it should be no surprise that panhandlers show up more as well. While Mr. Federal Way is not a fan of some of the safety issues they can cause, it shouldn’t be held against them for trying to find some way to get money.

Still, when in a vehicle, Mr. Federal Way believes that drivers should be courteous to everyone else on the road first and foremost. Stopping in the middle of the road is rarely the best course of action in any situation, but it’s the one that Mr. Federal Way often sees people do when giving to panhandlers.

If you cause an accident because you wanted to give out your $5 on a freeway off-ramp, there’s a good chance Mr. Federal Way would not be on your side. It’s one thing if you were already stopped when the light changes, but if you’re one of the people who slams on their brakes, you can bet you’d be paying whatever it takes to get Mr. Federal Way’s car fixed (or better yet, why not a new car? Mr. Federal Way could use one).

Mr. Federal Way doesn’t believe people who give should be fined for giving to the needy, but they should be much smarter about it. Instead of trying to drive the homeless elsewhere by just not giving to them, people just need to be encouraged to give to services that help the homeless more. They’ll likely get more from those organizations than the little bit of change you or Mr. Federal Way might have on them.

We shouldn’t try to just drive panhandlers away without helping, but we shouldn’t be creating dangerous situations by trying to help them. Be smart in these situations people. It’s not that hard.

Q: Mr. Federal Way, the Fourth of July is over a week away and my neighbors are already setting off fireworks all night long. I’m sick and tired of people using this annual holiday as a license to make noise, keep those of us who work during the day up at night and agitating my dogs. What are police doing to curb this issue and what can I do as a watchful citizen to help out?

A: Some would say that Mr. Federal Way has a license to make noise with all the feathers that have been ruffled by yours truly as of late. But enough about Mr. Federal Way.

First off, citizens are encouraged to attend the city’s upcoming Red, White and Blues festival. There you will find all of the entertainment you need over the holiday weekend.

Some of the festivities include music (Mr. Federal Way is looking forward to that Spike and the Impalers group all the young kids are listening to), plenty of food vendors, face painting and inflatables for the kids and, of course, fireworks.

Mr. Federal Way won’t pretend to know what Zorba is, but they’ll have that too. It should be a good time for everyone.

But as for fireworks being launched by citizens of Federal Way, Mr. Federal Way agrees, keep them on the Fourth of July and out of the city. Your wallet will probably agree as well if you receive a fine for launching them in city limits. The first offense is $100, the second is $200 and the third is $300. It’s not worth it.

Besides just being a noisy racket, which in turn causes the pets in Federal Way to become a noisy racket, it’s dangerous to launch them. Considering the extremely dry weather we’ve had, Mr. Federal Way thinks your neighbors would be happy if you didn’t set their backyard on fire.

Feel free to buy fireworks and use them where they are legal, but be mindful of everyone else who doesn’t want to hear them at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday.

Most importantly, do not wake Mr. Federal Way with your fireworks. No one will like Mr. Federal Way when Mr. Federal Way gets angry.

Q: Mr. Federal Way, did you win any prizes for Mrs. Federal Way at the 25th anniversary carnival last week?

A: None of your business.

Got a question for Mr. Federal Way? Email mrfederalway@federalwaymirror.com