Waterbury, CT Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Waterbury Code Ch. 132, Panhandling Control
- Adopted
- Ordinance passed 8-21-2017
- Prohibited acts
- 8 listed acts, § 132.03(A)-(H)
- Enforcement forum
- Community court, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-181c(d)
- Constitutional carve-out
- Protected speech exempted, § 132.04
Summary
Waterbury's Chapter 132 bans aggressive solicitation citywide: approaching or following someone in a way that would make a reasonable person fear harm, touching a person without consent, blocking passage, using abusive language, soliciting through false claims, or continuing to beg after a refusal.
(A) Approaching, speaking to or following a person in a manner as would cause a reasonable person to fear bodily harm. (B) Approaching, speaking to or following a person in a manner as would cause a reasonable person to fear the commission of a criminal act upon the person, or upon property in the person's immediate possession. (C) Touching another person without that person's consent. (D) Blocking or interfering with the safe or free passage of a person or vehicle in a way likely to cause bodily harm or property damage. (E) Directing abusive or profane language toward any person. (F) Asking, begging, or soliciting alms, including money and other things of value, in a false or misleading manner. (G) Continuing to ask, beg, or solicit alms from a person after the person has made a negative response. (H) Following the person solicited before, after or while asking, begging or soliciting alms.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-8: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through September 8, 2025).
Full Breakdown
or Connecticut constitutions. 03 lists eight prohibited acts: approaching, speaking to, or following a person in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to fear bodily harm; doing the same in a way that would cause fear of a criminal act against the person or nearby property; touching another person without consent; blocking or interfering with safe passage of a person or vehicle in a way likely to cause bodily harm or property damage; directing abusive or profane language at anyone; soliciting alms in a false or misleading manner; continuing to ask for alms after the person has given a negative response; and following the person solicited before, during or after the ask.
02 defines 'false or misleading manner' to include falsely claiming a specific unmet need, falsely claiming to be stranded out-of-towner, faking a physical disability, or using makeup or a device to simulate a deformity. 01, is preserving public order and ensuring safe pedestrian and vehicular passage in the City of Waterbury.
Violations & Fines
Under § 132.99, any violation of Chapter 132 for which no other fine is set is punished by a fine drawn from the schedule of fees, charges, penalties and rewards attached to the city's annual budget (§ 41.11), and/or the violator may be summoned to community court under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-181c(d).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is asking for money on the street illegal in Waterbury?
What makes panhandling 'false or misleading' under this ordinance?
What happens if someone is cited under the panhandling ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waterbury
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