Smyrna, TN Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Title 11, Chapter 13 of the Smyrna Municipal Code, adopted as Ord. 13-30 in January 2014, has two sections: definitions in § 11-1301 and prohibited conduct in § 11-1302.

Panhandling means any solicitation made in person upon any street, alley, sidewalk, public place, or park requesting an immediate donation of money or other thing of value for oneself or another person or entity. Selling an item for an amount far exceeding its value, where a reasonable person would understand the purchase is in substance a donation, counts as panhandling. Passively standing or sitting, performing music, or singing with a sign or other indication that a donation is being sought does not count, as long as there is no vocal request other than a response to an inquiry by another person.

Section 11-1302(1) bans panhandling when either the panhandler or the person being solicited is at a bus stop; a sidewalk café; any area within 25 feet, in any direction, of an automatic teller machine or entrance to a bank; any public or private school; within ten feet of a point of entry to or exit from any building open to the public, including commercial establishments; or on private property where "No Solicitation" signs are posted. Section 11-1302(2) bans panhandling on any day after sunset or before sunrise.

Section 11-1302(3) bans aggressive panhandling. Under § 11-1301 that includes approaching or speaking to a person in a way that would cause a reasonable person to believe he or she is threatened with imminent bodily injury or a criminal act against the person, another person, or property in the person's immediate possession; persisting after the person solicited has given a negative response; blocking the passage of a solicited person, alone or as part of a group; touching a solicited person without consent; rendering service to a motor vehicle without the prior consent of the owner, operator, or occupant and then asking for payment, whether the vehicle is on a public street or other public or private property; and conduct that would reasonably be construed as intended to intimidate, compel, or force a donation.