Tempe, AZ Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Article V of Chapter 24 defines "aggressive manner" in Section 24-115 to include five specific behaviors: intentionally touching the person solicited without consent; approaching or following in a way intended or likely to cause reasonable fear of bodily harm or property loss, or to intimidate someone into giving money; continuing to solicit after the person gives a negative response; intentionally blocking someone's safe passage or forcing them to take evasive action, with an express carve-out for lawful picketing or protest; and using obscene, abusive or threatening language or gestures likely to cause fear of imminent bodily harm or to intimidate an affirmative response.

Section 24-116 then lists eight prohibited solicitation scenarios beyond aggressive conduct itself: within 15 feet of a bank entrance or an ATM; on a public transit vehicle or within 15 feet of a bus-stop sign; within 15 feet of any transit stop or taxi stand; immediately at a business entrance in a way that blocks entry or exit; from someone in the middle of a financial transaction; within 10 feet of someone inside a business, including a patio, without the owner's authorization; and under any false or misleading representation.

"Solicit" is defined broadly in Section 24-115 to mean requesting an immediate donation or exchange of money or value by any means, spoken, written, printed or gestured, though it excludes a transit operator collecting a fare. The article was adopted in 1997 by Ordinance No. 42 and amended in 2013 by Ordinance No. 15 to add the transit-vehicle and taxi-stand buffers. Tempe Police enforce the article citywide, including on Mill Avenue and near the light rail stations downtown.