Battle Creek, MI Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Section 618.33, Aggravated Solicitation of Alms, Gifts or Loans, defines to solicit alms as communicating an in-person request, through words or conduct, to another person for a gratuitous donation of money, property or other tangible things. The City Commission adopted it as Ordinance 10-2016 on September 6, 2016.

Subsection (b) sets place and time limits. Solicitation is unlawful on private property if the owner, tenant or lawful occupant has asked the person not to solicit or has posted a sign saying solicitations are not welcome, and from any person waiting in line for entry to any building. It is unlawful from sunset to sunrise, except on public property if the solicitor holds an official license or permit, or on private property with the express knowledge, consent or invitation of the owner or party in control. It is also unlawful within 15 feet of a building entrance or exit without the controlling party's consent, the outdoor seating area of any restaurant, bistro, cafe, ice cream shop or bar, the entrance or exit of any public toilet facility, an automated teller machine (measured from the facility entrance when the machine sits inside one), a public transportation vehicle, or a bus station, bus stop or taxi stand.

Subsection (c) is the aggressive-conduct rule and has two forms. Accosting means approaching another person in a way that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested and that actually causes the victim to feel that way. Forcing oneself upon another means continuing to solicit after a negative response, blocking that person's passage, or other conduct reasonably construed as intended to compel the person to accede to demands.

Subsection (e) directs that the section be interpreted to comply with the United States Constitution and severs any portion deemed unenforceable. Section 618.17, the older Begging section, is printed as repealed by Ordinance 12-7, passed October 2, 2012.