Public Conduct
Aggressive panhandling, public urination, skateboarding rules, loud parties, loitering, and outdoor smoking ordinances.
Rules about conduct in shared space live under constant constitutional supervision. Panhandling ordinances must survive the First Amendment, camping enforcement now runs through Grants Pass, and vagueness doctrine strikes down any rule loose enough to let the officer define the offense.
The consequence is churn. These chapters get redrafted after every losing case, which is why the version date on a public-conduct ordinance is part of its meaning, and last year's text may describe last year's law.
What's Covered
Aggressive Panhandling
LAMC §41.59 prohibits panhandling that involves intimidation, blocking, or following a person, including penalties and how it differs from passive solicitation.
Public Urination
LAMC §41.47.2 prohibits urinating or defecating in public, including the citation amount, exemptions for medical conditions, and where to find restroom alternatives.
Skateboarding Rules
LAMC §56.15 and §63.44 limits on skateboarding on sidewalks, in parks, and in commercial corridors, including helmet requirements and skate-park designations.
Loud Party Ordinance
LAMC §41.40 unruly-gathering ordinance allowing police to cite hosts for second-response calls, including escalating fines and permit-revocation triggers.
Loitering Rules
Constitutional limits on loitering ordinances post-Papachristou and Morales, and what conduct LA can still penalize (e.g., loitering with intent to commit specific crimes).
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
LAMC §41.50 + LA County smoking bans in parks, beaches, restaurants, outdoor dining, and within 25 ft of business entrances; enforcement and signage rules.
Jaywalking
CA AB-2147 (Freedom to Walk Act, 2023) restricting jaywalking citations to immediate-danger situations, and how LAPD enforces the new standard.
Public Marijuana Use
CA Health & Safety Code §11362.3 prohibits cannabis use in public, including parks, sidewalks, and inside vehicles; penalties and consumption-lounge exceptions.
Public Alcohol Use
LAMC §41.27 + CA Bus & Prof §25620 prohibit drinking alcohol on public streets, sidewalks, parks, and beaches; penalties and special-event exemptions.