Passaic County, NJ Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

" That makes Section 9 a park-wide rule reaching every county park, golf course and playground, not one specific site. It is notable within the ordinance for having no built-in written-permission carve-out; nearly every neighboring prohibition in Article II, vending in Section 4, signage in Section 5, gaming in Section 6, gatherings in Section 8, lets the County authorize the act in writing, but Section 9's ban on soliciting alms or contributions stands without that escape valve. Article I, Section 1(a)(5) confirms the general permit mechanism applies ordinance-wide except where a section itself forecloses it, and Section 9's flat wording forecloses it.

A person soliciting money or contributions anywhere on county park land is in violation regardless of any permit they might otherwise hold for another activity. Enforcement follows the ordinance's general scheme: Article I, Section 1(c) routes complaints to "the Municipal Court having jurisdiction over the territory wherein the violation shall have occurred," and the penalty section at the close of the ordinance authorizes imprisonment not exceeding ninety days, a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars, or both, on conviction. A conviction also triggers automatic revocation of any park permit the violator holds.