Warwick, RI Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Section 40-29 defines soliciting broadly as asking for money or an object of value with the intent that it change hands right there, whether by spoken word, printed sign, or bodily gesture, and it carves out activity already licensed under chapter 46 (peddlers, hawkers and solicitors). The section then defines eight forms of "aggressive manner" conduct that cross the line: approaching, following, or speaking to someone in a way likely to make a reasonable person fear bodily harm or property damage; physically following a person with intent to ask for money; touching someone without consent while soliciting; blocking or interfering with a pedestrian's or driver's safe passage, including forcing evasive action; using violent or threatening gestures; continuing to ask after receiving a negative response; speaking at an unreasonably loud volume; and soliciting anyone waiting in line for entry to a building or another purpose.

"Public place" is defined to include any government-owned location the public can access, such as streets, highways, parking lots, plazas, transportation facilities, schools, places of amusement, parks and playgrounds. Subsection (b) states the operative prohibition in one sentence: no person shall solicit in an aggressive manner in a public place. The ordinance was adopted by Ord. No. O-06-21 on July 10, 2006, and sits in Chapter 40's public-conduct article alongside Warwick's laser-pointer, littering and public-smoking rules.