Advocates for tighter restrictions on panhandling in Pittsburgh pressed their case yesterday before City Council, which asked them to work out differences with civil libertarians this month.

Representatives of merchant groups, including the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Oakland Business Improvement District and Building Owners and Managers Association said a worsening panhandling problem threatens the viability of city businesses.

They backed legislation, submitted by Mayor Tom Murphy, that would ban panhandling near sidewalk cafes, street food vendors, bus stops, automated teller machines and lines of people waiting for admission or tickets to events, and restrict it to roughly daylight hours.

The American Civil Liberties Union has said the proposal may violate free speech rights.

Council put consideration of the legislation on hold pending a public hearing, which could occur next month.