Worcester, MA Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Ordained January 29, 2013, Section 16 opens with City Council findings that begging, soliciting and panhandling are protected First Amendment activity, but that aggressive versions subject targets to real or perceived coercion. Subsection (c) defines aggressive manner through eleven scenarios: continuing to solicit after a negative response, touching a person or their property without consent, blocking or interfering with safe passage of a pedestrian or vehicle, using violent or threatening language or gestures, following a person after solicitation, soliciting anyone waiting in line or entering a building, conduct likely to cause fear of bodily harm, begging in an intimidating group of two or more, soliciting within 20 feet of a bank, ATM, check-cashing business, transit facility or stop, public restroom, pay phone, theater, or outdoor cafe or restaurant seating, and soliciting any person in public after dark, defined as the half hour before sunset to the half hour after sunrise.

Public place is defined broadly to include any street, sidewalk, walkway, driveway, parking lot, plaza, transportation facility, school, park, playground, and building or dwelling entrances. Subsection (d) makes aggressive begging, panhandling or soliciting unlawful outright and lets any police officer order the person to cease and desist, with arrest authorized for noncompliance. 00 for each day the violation continues, or community service the court determines in lieu of a fine.