SAN FRANCISCO — The state high court ended a long-running legal battle yesterday when it barred the Hare Krishnas from soliciting donations at Los Angeles International Airport.
The unanimous ruling written by Justice Carlos Moreno upheld the Los Angeles ordinance barring solicitations as a reasonable security measure to protect passengers rushing to make travel connections at the airport.
California’s other major airports supported Los Angeles’ legal position, and the religious group and other organizations will be barred from soliciting donations in California airports.
“Soliciting the immediate receipt of funds at a busy international airport like LAX is particularly problematic,’’ Moreno wrote. “The problems posed by solicitations for the immediate receipt of funds that arise in any public place would be exacerbated in the often crowded and hectic environment of a large international airport.’’
The Hare Krishnas are free to preach on airport property and ask passengers to send donations later. But the group that has been a fixture at the airport since 1974 and was lampooned in the 1980 movie “Airplane!’’ is barred from receiving cash and checks on airport property. The ban applies to others groups, too.
The Krishnas’ lawyer, David Liberman, said no further appeals appear possible.
