A. Prohibited Acts: Any person who violates the provisions below is guilty of a misdemeanor:
1. Begs in a public place with the intent to intimidate another into giving money or goods; or
2. Obstructs pedestrian or vehicular traffic in a public place.
B. Definitions:
AGGRESSIVE MANNER: To:
1. Intentionally make any non-consensual physical contact with another person in the course of a solicitation; or
2. Approach or follow the person being solicited in a manner that is intended to cause a reasonable person to be intimidated into responding affirmatively to the solicitation for fear of imminent bodily harm to oneself or another, or damage to or loss of property; or
3. Continuing to solicit within five feet (5') of the person being solicited after the person has given or expressed a negative response, if continuing the solicitation is intended to cause a reasonable person to be intimidated into responding affirmatively to the solicitation for fear of imminent bodily harm to oneself or another, or damage to or loss of property; or
4. Intentionally obstruct the safe or free passage of the person being solicited, causing the person, including a person operating a vehicle, to move from his or her intended path to avoid reasonably imminent non-consensual physical contact with the person making the solicitation; or
5. Make any threatening statement or gesture immediately before or during the solicitation or after a refusal to make a donation intended to cause a reasonable person to be intimidated into responding affirmatively to the solicitation for fear of imminent bodily harm to oneself or another, or damage to or loss of property.
SOLICIT OR SOLICITATION: To request, ask or beg, whether by words, bodily gestures, signs, or other means, for an immediate donation of money or other thing of value, including the purchase of an item or service for an amount far exceeding its value, under circumstances where a reasonable person would understand that the purchase is a donation.
C. Violation: Violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable as provided in section 1-2-1 of this Code. (Ord. 130, 4-20-2015)