Public Conduct in Clarksville, TN (2026)
5 verified public conduct rules for Clarksville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Aggressive Panhandling
Clarksville bars standing in a street, median, alley or sidewalk to solicit or accept money from vehicle occupants while traffic is moving, and separately bars using a sign or device to flag drivers for commercial activity. City Code Sec. 12-126 exempts emergency, utility and city workers, and permitted street closures.
No Roadside Panhandling To Drivers
Significant RestrictionsOfficial Code of the City of Clarksville Sec. 12-126(b)
No person shall stand on or otherwise occupy any portion of the public right-of-way, including any public street, median, alley or sidewalk for the purpose of soliciting or accepting a donation of money or any other item from the occupant of any vehicle while the vehicle is on a public street being used by, or open to use by, vehicular traffic.
Skateboarding Rules
Clarksville prohibits skateboards and roller skates on the streets, sidewalks, or lots of any commercially-zoned property unless the rider carries the property owner's written permission on their person. The same section bars wheeled recreation in city parks, playgrounds, and city property outside areas specifically designated for it, and separately makes negligent operation of a skateboard, bicycle, or roller skates a citywide offense.
Clarksville Bars Skateboards From Business Zones
Significant RestrictionsClarksville, Tenn., Code of Ordinances § 9-514(b)-(c)
(b)Skateboards and roller skates prohibited. No person shall ride or otherwise use a skateboard or roller skates upon any streets or sidewalks or other area of any commercially-zoned property within the city without written permission from the owner or occupant of such commercially zoned property. Such written permission shall be in the possession of any person using a skateboard or roller skat...
Loitering Rules
Clarksville's loitering offense is purpose-specific, not a general vagrancy ban. A person is guilty only when remaining in a public place to gamble, engage in or solicit prostitution, use a controlled substance unlawfully, linger at a school without a legitimate reason or permission, or solicit business in a transportation facility without authorization.
Clarksville Defines Loitering By Five Purposes
Some RestrictionsClarksville, Tenn., Code of Ordinances § 10-223
A person is guilty of loitering when he:(1)Loiters or remains in a public place for the purpose of gambling with cards, dice, or other gambling paraphernalia; or(2)Loiters or remains in a public place for the purpose of engaging in or agreeing or offering to engage in prostitution; or(3)Loiters or remains in a public place for the purpose of unlawfully using a controlled substance; or(4)Loiters...
Jaywalking
Clarksville makes it unlawful to cross a street anywhere except by the shortest route straight across at a right angle to the curb, or inside a marked crosswalk. In the business district and between two signal-controlled intersections the rule tightens further: a crosswalk is the only legal crossing point, with no exceptions for light traffic.
Clarksville Requires Crosswalk Or Right-Angle Crossing
Light RestrictionsClarksville, Tenn., Code of Ordinances §§ 9-605, 9-607
No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than by a route at right angles to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite curb except in a crosswalk. However, at intersections where traffic control signals have traffic stopped in all directions, these provisions shall not apply to pedestrians crossing within the area common to both intersecting roadways. ... (1)Adjacent intersections with ...
Public Alcohol Use
Clarksville makes it illegal to possess or drink alcohol, including beer, in any city park or boat dock, including ones the city only patrols or maintains. The single carve-out is a city council-approved public function holding a special events beer permit issued under section 2-105(4).
Clarksville Bans Alcohol In City Parks And Docks
Significant RestrictionsOfficial Code of the City of Clarksville § 10-229
Except as otherwise authorized by resolutions adopted by the city council, it shall be illegal for any person to possess or consume alcoholic beverages, including beer, at or within the public parks and/or boat docks of the city, or parks or docks within the city patrolled or maintained by the city. Notwithstanding the foregoing, consumption of beer is permitted during any public function, fest...