High Point, NC Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)
Key Facts
- Buffer zone
- 25 feet of banks/ATMs
- Also covers
- buses, transit stops, crosswalks
- Refusal rule
- can't resolicit within 5 feet
- Penalty
- misdemeanor
Summary
High Point bars soliciting money in an aggressive manner in public areas, on buses, within 25 feet of banks and ATMs, or at marked crosswalks, defining aggressive conduct to include blocking, touching, or following a person.
A person commits an offense if the person solicits:(1)In an aggressive manner in a public area;(2)In a bus, at a bus station or stop, or at a facility operated by a transportation authority for passengers;(3)Within 25 feet of:a.An automated teller facility;b.The entrance or exit of a bank; orc.The entrance or exit of a check cashing business; or(4)At a marked crosswalk.(5)On either side of the street on a block where a school attended by minors or a child-care facility has an entrance or exit;(d)A culpable mental state is not required, and need not be proved, for an offense under subsection (c)(2), (3), or (4).(e)This section is not intended to proscribe a demand for payment for services rendered or goods delivered.(f)A violation of this section is punishable as a misdemeanor. (Ord. No. 6596/08-81, 11-18-08; Ord. No. 7852/22-72, § 1, 6-21-22)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9 | Development Ordinance: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
Section 12-1-13 makes it an offense to solicit in an 'aggressive manner' in a public area, on a bus or at a transit facility, within 25 feet of an ATM or the entrance to a bank or check-cashing business, or at a marked crosswalk. 'Aggressive manner' is defined to include physical contact, following the person, continuing to ask after a refusal within five feet, blocking passage, or using obscene or abusive language or gestures to intimidate.
Violations & Fines
A violation is punishable as a misdemeanor; no culpable mental state need be proved for offenses tied to buses/transit facilities, the 25-foot bank/ATM zone, or marked crosswalks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is panhandling itself illegal in High Point?
What counts as aggressive solicitation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in High Point
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Aggressive Panhandling in Nearby Cities
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