Clarksville, TN Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Section 12-126, titled restrictions on use of city public rights-of-way for solicitation/panhandling, has three operative bans. Subsection (a) bars storing, exhibiting, selling or attempting to sell goods, merchandise or services from any public street, median, alley or sidewalk. Subsection (b) is the panhandling clause specifically: 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.

Subsection (c) separately bars using a sign or other device to attract a driver's attention to commercial activity. The section, adopted by Ordinance No. 19-2016-17 on October 6, 2016, carves out several exemptions in subsection (d): city, county or state licensees, lessees, franchisees, permittees, employees or contractors doing inspection, construction, repair or maintenance work or engineering surveys; firefighting, law enforcement, EMS, health care, military, civil preparedness, emergency management, solid waste, public works, public transportation and public utilities personnel while on duty; and streets closed to vehicular traffic for a permitted festival, parade or event.

Subsection (e) protects newspaper and handbill distribution generally, but bans it specifically on any street within the city and bars handing, passing or throwing materials to a vehicle occupant, or acting to induce the occupant to hand, pass or throw something back.