Travis County, TX Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)
Key Facts
- Passive sign-holding
- Protected speech
- ATM buffer
- Solicitation banned
- Penalty range
- Class C to B
- TXDOT medians
- Safety restrictions
Summary
Travis County and Austin prohibit aggressive panhandling such as touching, blocking paths, or soliciting at ATMs and bus stops, while passive sign-holding remains protected speech under federal court rulings.
Sec. 42.03. OBSTRUCTING HIGHWAY OR OTHER PASSAGEWAY. (a) A person commits an offense if, without legal privilege or authority, he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly: (1) obstructs a highway, street, sidewalk, railway, waterway, elevator, aisle, hallway, entrance, or exit to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access; or (2) disobeys a reasonable request or order to move issued by a peace officer, a fireman, or a person with authority to control the use of the premises. (b) For purposes of this section, "obstruct" means to render impassable or to render passage unreasonably inconvenient or hazardous.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Austin City Code prohibits aggressive solicitation including unwanted touching, intimidating gestures, blocking pedestrians or vehicles, and approaching people at ATMs, transit stops, sidewalk cafes, or parked vehicles. Travis County in unincorporated areas relies on Texas Penal Code disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, and obstruction statutes rather than a separate panhandling ordinance. Federal courts have struck broad solicitation bans, so passive sign-holding on medians remains constitutionally protected. TXDOT median-safety rules and county roadway right-of-way orders can still restrict solicitation in dangerous traffic locations.
Violations & Fines
Aggressive solicitation, ATM-zone panhandling, or pedestrian obstruction is a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to $500; criminal trespass after warning is a Class B misdemeanor with possible jail time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is holding a sign at an intersection legal?
Can businesses ban panhandling out front?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Travis County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Travis County to another location·View the Texas public conduct overview
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