Indianapolis, IN Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Sec. 407-102(a) defines panhandling broadly: any in-person request for an immediate donation of money or gratuity made on a street, public place or park, including vocal appeals, street performance requests, and transactions where a low-value item is exchanged for what is really a donation. The definition specifically excludes passively standing or sitting, or performing music or singing, with only a sign soliciting donations and no vocal request beyond answering a question. On top of the aggressive-manner list in (d), (b) bars all panhandling citywide after sunset or before sunrise, and (c) bars it entirely at bus stops, inside any public transportation vehicle or facility, inside a parked or stopped vehicle on a public street or alley, at sidewalk cafes, or within twenty feet of an ATM or bank entrance, regardless of manner.

The six aggressive acts in (d), unwanted touching, working a line outside a business, blocking a path or doorway, following someone who has walked away, profane or threatening language or gestures, and panhandling in a group of two or more, are each independently unlawful. Sec. 407-102(e) makes every violation both a public nuisance and "a separate violation of this Code," punishable under Sec. 103-3, and directs the court to enjoin the violator from committing further violations rather than leaving repeat conduct to future prosecutions alone.