A panhandler says he was given a $180 ticket for asking people for money in Dartmouth.

Alex Simpson says he was panhandling in a busy intersection on Monday when a police officer approached him.

"Walking up and down (the street) just so I could have something to eat,” Simpson said. “It wasn't all that good, the snow was out, so I decided to leave. Once I hit the parking lot… the police came and gave me a ticket."

Halifax Regional Police say the fine wasn’t for panhandling.

"Panhandling in itself is not illegal,” said Const. Shawn Currie of Halifax Regional Police. “Sometimes a problem exists when you step out into traffic. That's illegal under the Motor Vehicle Act."

Simpson insists he wasn't doing anything to disrupt traffic.

"I don't bother anybody,” he said. “I don't approach the cars unless the windows come down or they ask me to come over."

But police say even that is an infraction.

“The (Motor Vehicle) Act states that you can't approach, offer to sell, provide service, or solicit anybody in a motor vehicle," said Const. Currie.

Simpson says he's been ticketed three times, but he's not going to stop panhandling as it’s what he has to do to survive.

He also says he's never paid any of the tickets, as he simply doesn't have the money.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ron Shaw.