Wilmington, NC Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Section 6-16 defines solicit, beg or ask broadly as requesting a donation of money or anything of value from another person, whatever the solicitor's purpose, by spoken, written, printed or other means. It defines "aggressive manner" to include intentionally or recklessly making physical contact with or touching the person solicited without consent; following the person if that is intended to or likely to cause a reasonable person to fear imminent bodily harm or a crime against their property, or is intended or likely to intimidate them into giving money; intentionally or recklessly blocking safe or free passage or forcing the person to take evasive action to avoid contact; or approaching in a manner intended or likely to cause a reasonable person to fear imminent bodily harm or that is intended or likely to intimidate them into responding.

"Intimidate" means conduct that would cause a reasonable person to fear imminent bodily harm or a crime against their property and that causes the person to act differently than they otherwise would. "Public area" reaches streets, rights-of-way, alleys, roads, sidewalks, driveways, bridges, parking lots, parks, playgrounds, plazas, city-owned property, and buildings open to the general public including their doorways and grounds. Subsection (b) bars soliciting, begging or asking in an aggressive or intimidating manner in a public area, and separately bars doing so within 21 feet of any automated teller machine without the consent of the machine's owner or lawful possessor.