Stonecrest, GA Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Adopted by Ordinance No. 2018-10-03 and codified at City Code § 16-22, Stonecrest's panhandling ordinance defines "aggressively beg, panhandle or solicit" as any in-person request for money or an item of value made through unwanted touching, detaining, impeding or intimidation, including approaching or following pedestrians, repeating a request after a refusal, using abusive language, unwanted physical contact, or intentionally blocking foot or vehicle traffic. Beyond the aggressive-conduct ban, § 16-22(b) prohibits beggars, panhandlers and solicitors from three things outright: obstructing pedestrian or vehicular traffic, aggressive begging itself, and soliciting from the operator or occupant of any vehicle that is in traffic on a public street.

That last rule cuts both ways: any driver or passenger who actually hands over money or an item of value to a panhandler while the vehicle is in the travel lane is also in violation. No one may stand on a traffic median or bicycle path to beg if doing so would obstruct traffic. The ordinance further bans all panhandling, aggressive or not, within 12 feet of six categories of location: outdoor cafes, public restrooms, lines to enter a building or event, building entrances and exits, ATMs, and pay phones.

"Public place" is defined broadly to include alleys, driveways, parking lots, plazas, sidewalks, doorways and building grounds. Violations fall under Chapter 16's general punishment clause, § 16-1, which directs that anyone found guilty of violating the chapter is punished consistent with the Code and Georgia law.