Yucaipa, CA Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Yucaipa Municipal Code § 12.06.080 says no person shall solicit in an aggressive manner in any public place. Section 12.06.070 defines solicit as asking, begging, requesting or panhandling by word, writing or gesture to get an immediate donation of money or other thing of value, or to sell goods or services. Aggressive manner covers conduct intended or likely to make a reasonable person fear bodily harm or property loss, intentional touching of a person or occupied vehicle without consent, intentionally blocking the safe or free passage of a pedestrian or vehicle, violent or threatening gestures, and persisting in closely following or approaching someone after being told they do not want to be solicited or give anything.

Section 12.06.090 adds location bans that apply to every solicitation, aggressive or not. No one can solicit within 25 feet of an entrance or exit of a financial institution during business hours, or within 25 feet of an ATM while it is available for customers. Solicitation is prohibited in public parking lots and structures after dark, defined as one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. It is also barred in a public transportation vehicle or within 200 feet of a designated or posted transit stop, from drivers stopped at a gas station, fuel pump or electric vehicle charger, and from motorists within 50 feet of a driveway to a shopping center, retail or business establishment. On medians, no person can linger (remain longer than two traffic signal cycles), loiter or solicit. Solicitation directed at diners at restaurants and in public restrooms is also barred.

The council's findings in § 12.06.060 state that the restrictions are content neutral time, place and manner rules adopted under Chapter XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution, not a bar on First Amendment expression.

Enforcement is set by § 12.06.100: each violation is a separate violation, unlawful and a public nuisance, subject to injunction, administrative citation under Chapter 1.13, or criminal prosecution. Money unlawfully obtained is disgorged to the city, and a prevailing party can recover attorneys' fees if the city elected to seek its own fees.