Public Conduct in Amarillo, TX (2026)
6 verified public conduct rules for Amarillo, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Aggressive Panhandling
Amarillo makes it an offense to stand on or near a roadway to solicit a ride, money, employment, or business from people inside passing vehicles. The rule targets roadside panhandling and hitchhiking rather than sidewalk begging, and sits inside the Traffic Code's pedestrian-conduct article.
Amarillo Bans Roadway Solicitation From Vehicles
Significant RestrictionsAmarillo Code of Ordinances § 16-3-313(c)
No person shall stand on or in proximity to a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, contributions, employment or business from the occupant of any vehicle.
Public Urination
Amarillo Code Sec. 10-3-42 makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate within public view or in any public place other than a bathroom or enclosure built for that purpose. Police cite offenders under the city's Miscellaneous Offenses chapter, with fines running up to $500 per incident.
Amarillo Bans Urinating or Defecating in Public
Some RestrictionsAmarillo Code of Ordinances Sec. 10-3-42; Sec. 10-3-75(a)
Sec. 10-3-42. - Urinating, defecating in public. No person may urinate or defecate within public view or in any public place other than in an enclosure designed for such purposes. (Code 1960, § 14-5; Ord. No. 5641, § 1, 10-28-86)
Skateboarding Rules
Amarillo traffic code keeps anyone on rollerskates, a coaster, or similar toy vehicle off city roadways except while crossing at a crosswalk, and the Amarillo Skate Park sets separate on-site rules for skateboards, rollerskates and bikes.
Amarillo Bars Rollerskates and Coasters From Roadways
Light RestrictionsAmarillo Code of Ordinances § 16-3-351; § 12-7-11(a)
Sec. 16-3-351. - Coasters, rollerskates, etc. No person upon rollerskates or riding in or by means of any coaster, toy vehicle or similar device, shall go upon any roadway except while crossing a Street on a crosswalk. When so crossing such person shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians.
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Amarillo does not ban smoking across its parks generally, but its Parks Conduct ordinance bars tobacco and alcohol at specific times and places: during youth sport league games or tournaments, and inside the Amarillo Skate Park and Rick Klein Sports Complex facilities at any time.
Amarillo Bans Tobacco at Skate Park, Youth Games
Light RestrictionsAmarillo Code of Ordinances § 12-7-4(11), § 12-7-11(a)(8)
(11)Alcohol and tobacco. Consume or use any alcoholic beverage or tobacco product during a game, event, or tournament involving an organized youth sport league or team. ... (8)Not bring into or use any food, beverage, or tobacco products inside a skate park facility.
Jaywalking
Amarillo pedestrians must use a marked crosswalk when crossing between two traffic-signal-controlled intersections, and the same crosswalk-only rule applies anywhere inside the business district. Crossing mid-block outside those areas is not restricted by this section, but jaywalking within its reach is a cited offense under the Traffic Code.
Amarillo Requires Crosswalks Between Signals, Downtown
Some RestrictionsAmarillo Code of Ordinances § 16-3-312(a)-(b)
(a)Between consecutive traffic-signal-controlled intersections, pedestrians shall not cross a Street at any place except in a marked crosswalk. ... (b)No pedestrians shall cross a roadway other than in a crosswalk in any business district.
Public Alcohol Use
Amarillo bans drinking near a parked vehicle in public under Sec. 10-3-43 and bans open containers outright inside a defined Central Business District zone under Sec. 10-3-44. Both carry the Chapter 10-3 penalty of up to $500.00 per offense, with narrow festival and restaurant exceptions.
Amarillo Public Alcohol Consumption and Open Containers
Some RestrictionsAmarillo Code of Ordinances Sec. 10-3-43; Sec. 10-3-44(a)-(b)
Sec. 10-3-43. Consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places. No person shall knowingly or intentionally consume an alcoholic beverage while in, upon or immediately adjacent to a motor vehicle in a public place or in any Public Right-of-Way or public parking area... Sec. 10-3-44. Open alcoholic beverage containers. (a) Possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a public place wi...