Boston, MA Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Section 16-41, adopted by Ord. 2013 c. 1, defines AGGRESSIVE MANNER broadly: approaching someone in a way likely to make a reasonable person fear imminent bodily harm or that is intended to intimidate them into giving money, touching or closely following a person who has declined, using violent gestures or profane and abusive language, or blocking a pedestrian's or vehicle's path. 2 then splits the ban into three layers. First, aggressive-manner solicitation is barred everywhere in any public place. Second, solicitation of any kind, aggressive or not, is barred when the target is in a bus shelter or at a stop, in a parking garage or lot, in a sidewalk cafe, waiting in line to enter a business, or standing in a crosswalk.

Third, soliciting within 10 feet of an ATM or an automated teller machine facility during business hours, or within 10 feet of a bank or check-cashing business entrance during business hours, is barred outright, as is soliciting anyone walking or standing in a street, highway, median, shoulder, bicycle lane, or exit ramp used for motor vehicle travel. PUBLIC PLACE is defined expansively to include streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, school grounds, and building entrances and doorways owned or controlled by any government body.