(A) Permitted. It shall be lawful to beg or solicit alms except in a manner set forth in subpart (B) of this section.
(B) Prohibited conduct while begging or soliciting alms. It shall be unlawful for any person to ask, beg, or solicit alms or contributions of money, food, or clothes, or exhibit oneself for the purpose of begging or soliciting alms or such contributions, by aggressively accosting another, or forcing oneself upon the company of another.
(C) Definitions.
(1) For purposes of this section,
ASK, BEG OR SOLICIT shall include, without limitation, the spoken, written or printed word, or such other acts as are conducted in furtherance of the purpose of obtaining alms or contributions of money, food, or clothing.
(2) For the purposes of this section,
AGGRESSIVELY ACCOSTING shall be defined as approaching or speaking to someone in such manner as would cause a reasonable person to fear imminent bodily harm or the commission of a criminal act upon his or her person, or upon property in his or her immediate possession.
(3) For purposes of this section,
FORCING ONESELF UPON THE COMPANY OF ANOTHER shall be defined as continuing to request, beg or solicit alms or contributions of money, food, or clothing in close proximity to the person addressed after the person to whom the request is directed has made a negative response; or blocking the passage of the person addressed; or otherwise engaging in conduct which could reasonably be construed as intended to compel or force a person to accede to demands.
(D) Severability. If any portion of this section is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed severable, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof.
(Ord. passed 10-27-92) Penalty, see §§ 7-390 et seq.