Columbus, IN Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Chapter 9.14 holds one section, § 9.14.010, adopted by the Common Council as Ordinance 99-18 in 1999. It does not define aggressive panhandling and does not turn on a person's manner. Instead it draws a location line: the city prohibits pedestrian solicitation and distribution of information or materials of any type or nature to motorists using any public streets, alleys or roadways within the corporate limits of the city of Columbus. The ban applies to pedestrians who are standing or otherwise being within the public streets, alleys or roadways, and in the public rights-of-way contiguous to them. City sidewalks are expressly excluded, so the rule is aimed at medians, shoulders, intersections and the roadway itself.

The wording covers solicitation and distribution alike, and it is not limited to money. A pedestrian handing out flyers or information to drivers is within the same prohibition as one asking for donations.

Subsection B carves out licensed retail businesses that operate motor vehicles to facilitate their business on or around public streets, alleys and roadways. No other exemption is printed.

The fine schedule is printed in the section itself and does not depend on the general penalty chapter. A pedestrian found in violation is subject to a fine of one hundred dollars for the first offense. A second or subsequent violation within any one-year period carries a fine of five hundred dollars. Each act of or attempted act of solicitation or distribution is a separate offense, so repeated attempts in one outing are counted one by one.

Begging itself is addressed in a different place. Section 9.16.050 makes it unlawful to be found begging in the city, with no location limit. Door-to-door solicitation of residents is a separate licensing regime in Chapter 5.20 and does not govern roadway solicitation.