Laredo, TX Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Adopted in 1998 and amended in 2004, Article XII defines 'solicit' broadly as requesting an immediate donation of money or anything of value, including a purchase at a price far exceeding an item's worth. Sec. 21-252 bars all outdoor solicitation after sunset or before sunrise, and Sec. 21-253 bans soliciting at bus stops, on transit vehicles, on private property without the owner's permission, within 20 feet of a building entrance, within 40 feet of an outdoor ATM, or anywhere in the vehicular right-of-way except as allowed by Sec.

21-256. Sec. 21-254 targets manner rather than location: closing within five feet of a target before they indicate a willingness to give, blocking a sidewalk or street by standing, sitting or lying in someone's path, following a person who has walked away, using profane or abusive language, soliciting in groups of two or more within ten feet of each other, soliciting while intoxicated, or stepping into a live traffic lane. A solicitor working an intersection under Sec. 21-256 must wear a high-visibility vest, work only within 40 feet of a signalized crossing where traffic has fully stopped, and clear the roadway before the light turns green; children under 18 may not be used to solicit vehicle occupants, and any group solicitation of more than four adults needs a CPR- and first aid-certified person on site.

Sec. 21-255 separately criminalizes false claims, such as posing as a nonexistent charity or wearing a military, medical or clergy uniform without the credentials to back it up.