File #: O-4-22    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Ordinance Status: Adopted
File created: 12/22/2021 In control: Public Safety Committee
On agenda: 1/10/2022 Final action: 3/14/2022
Title: Aggressive Panhandling - For the purpose of clarifying that aggressive panhandling is a misdemeanor offense; and generally relating to aggressive panhandling.
Sponsors: Gavin Buckley, Elly Tierney
Indexes: Public Safety Committee
Attachments: 1. O-4-22 First Reader, 2. O-4-22 Staff Report, 3. O-4-22 Fiscal Impact Note, 4. O-4-22 Amendment 1 - Tierney, Gay, O'Neill, Pindell Charles, 5. O-4-22 SIGNED

Title

Aggressive Panhandling - For the purpose of clarifying that aggressive panhandling is a misdemeanor offense; and generally relating to aggressive panhandling. 

Body

CITY COUNCIL OF THE

City of Annapolis

 

Ordinance 4-22

 

Introduced by: Mayor Buckley

Co-sponsored by:

 

Referred to

Public Safety Committee

 

 

AN ORDINANCE concerning

 

Aggressive Panhandling

 

FOR                     the purpose of clarifying that aggressive panhandling is a misdemeanor offense; and generally relating to aggressive panhandling.

 

BY                     repealing and reenacting with amendments the following portions of the Code of the City of Annapolis, 2022 Edition

11.12.068

 

 

SECTION I:                     BE IT ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the Code of the City of Annapolis shall be amended to read as follows:

 

Title 11 - PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE

Chapter 11.12 - PUBLIC PEACE AND ORDER

 

Section 11.12.068 Aggressive panhandling.

 

A.                     Aggressive panhandling shall mean to accost and beg from persons in a public place and shall include the conduct of begging which harasses, menaces, intimidates, impedes traffic or otherwise causes harm. Aggressive panhandling shall not include the act of passively standing, sitting, or performing music, singing, or other performance with a sign or other indication that a donation is being sought without any vocal request other than in response to an inquiry by another person.

 

B.                     It shall be unlawful AND A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE for any person to engage in an act of aggressive panhandling at any time, including any of the following actions:

 

1.                     Touching the solicited person without the solicited person's consent;

2.                     Panhandling a person while such person is standing in line and waiting to be admitted to a commercial establishment;

3.                     Blocking the path of a person being solicited or the entrance to any building or vehicle;

4.                     Following behind, ahead or alongside a person who walks away from the panhandler after being solicited;

51.                     Using profane or abusive language, either during the solicitation or following a refusal to make a donation, or making any statement, gesture, or other communication that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or feel compelled to donate;.

6.                     Panhandling in a group of two or more persons;

7.                     Continuing vocally to solicit from a person after receiving a negative response.

 

C.                     The fine PENALTIES for violations of Section 11.12.068 shall be set by resolution of the City Council.

 

 

SECTION II:  AND BE IT FURTHER ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that this ordinance shall take effect from the date of its passage.

 

 

Explanation:

UPPERCASE indicates matter added to existing law.

Strikethrough indicates matter stricken from existing law.

Underlining indicates amendments.