Tustin, CA Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Section 5831 flatly prohibits soliciting, asking or begging in an aggressive manner in any public place. Section 5833 defines "aggressive manner" to include approaching, speaking to, or following a person in a way likely to make a reasonable person fear bodily harm or feel intimidated into giving money; intentionally blocking or interfering with a pedestrian's or vehicle's free passage or access to a building entrance; touching or making physical contact with a person or occupied vehicle without consent; using violent or threatening gestures; persisting in following or approaching someone after being told no; or using profane or abusive language likely to provoke a violent reaction.

"Public place" is defined broadly to include streets, sidewalks, parking lots, transportation facilities, parks, and the common areas of businesses, apartment houses and hotels. Section 5832 layers on a location-based ban regardless of aggressiveness: no solicitation at all is allowed in City parking structures, within twenty-five feet of a public restroom entrance, within twenty-five feet of a bank, credit union, check-cashing business or ATM during business hours, at a marked bus stop, or on public transportation vehicles or facilities. The Tustin City Council adopted this Part after finding, per Section 5830, that aggressive solicitation and confined-area solicitation create fear and intimidation warranting the ban.