Broken Arrow, OK Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Section 16-19 carries the title "Aggressive begging" after Ord. No. 3773, adopted February 21, 2023, which amended the title; the former title pertained to begging. Subsection (a) records the council's findings that the city has a compelling interest in reasonable time, place and manner rules for begging, solicitation and panhandling on streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways and plazas, and subsection (b) states the purpose: protecting the First Amendment rights of everyone, including people who choose not to take part. Subsection (a)(2) adds that the section is not intended to limit anyone from exercising the constitutional right to solicit funds, picket or protest.

The operative rule sits in two subsections. Subsection (d) says it is unlawful to aggressively beg, panhandle or solicit any other person. Subsection (c) then defines "aggressive manner" through thirteen numbered behaviors. Eight describe conduct: approaching, speaking to or following a person before, during or after soliciting when that is intended or likely to make a reasonable person fear bodily harm or property loss; continuing to solicit after a negative response; intentionally touching someone without consent; intentionally blocking a pedestrian or vehicle, including forcing evasive action; violent or threatening language or gestures; following a person with intent to ask for money; speaking at an unreasonably loud volume; and begging in a group of two or more in an intimidating fashion.

Five behaviors are tied to place, time or age, so tone does not matter. Soliciting any person within 20 feet of an outdoor seating area of a cafe, restaurant or other business, an automated teller machine, a public toilet or a pay telephone counts. So does soliciting within 50 feet of any mass transportation stop, including a school bus stop, and within 50 feet of land owned by a public or private school used to educate minors. Soliciting any person in public after dark also counts, defined as one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise. Soliciting anyone under 18 is covered too.

The definitions reach beyond cash requests. "Solicit" includes spoken, written or printed words, gestures and signs used to obtain an immediate donation, and it includes an offer to immediately exchange or sell goods or services. "Public place" covers any place with governmental title and public access, such as a street, sidewalk, parking lot, plaza, park or playground.