Yonkers, NY Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Yonkers City Code Chapter 86, adopted by the City Council on February 25, 2020 under General Order No. 3-2020, targets solicitation that crosses from asking for money into intimidation. Section 86-3(A) makes it unlawful to solicit in an aggressive manner in any public place, defined broadly under § 86-2 to include streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, school grounds, parking lots and garages, and building doorways and entrances. Aggressive manner covers four kinds of conduct: intentionally or recklessly touching or approaching within arm's length of the person solicited without consent; following the person in a way likely to cause fear of imminent bodily harm or intended to intimidate them into paying; intentionally blocking someone's safe passage or forcing a pedestrian or driver to take evasive action; and approaching in a manner likely to cause a reasonable person to fear harm or feel intimidated into responding.

Section 86-3(B) adds a location-based ban: no one may solicit, ask or beg within 10 feet of the entrance or exit of any bank or check-cashing business while it is open, or within 10 feet of an automated teller machine while it is available for customer use; where the ATM sits inside an ATM facility, the 10-foot line is measured from the facility's own entrance or exit. The ordinance carves out an express exception for lawful vending of goods and services in these same areas.

Enforcement runs through the Yonkers Police Department, and § 86-4 sets the penalty at a Class II offense, which under Chapter 1's general penalty schedule at § 1-21 carries a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $5,000, or up to 15 days in jail, or both.