Abington, PA Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)

Chapter 104, Loitering, adopted in 1978, declares its purpose to protect public health, safety and welfare, reduce loitering-related crime and enforce parental responsibility for minors. Section 104-2 defines loitering broadly as remaining idle in one location, spending time idly, loafing or wandering aimlessly, and defines a public place to include streets, alleys, sidewalks, the areas in front of stores and businesses, public grounds, parks and even privately owned parking lots or vacant land not controlled by the person charged. Section 104-3 lists five prohibited manners of loitering in a public place: obstructing or hindering the free passage of vehicles, traffic or pedestrians; interfering with the free use of property or any lawfully conducted business; obstructing or interfering with any person lawfully present; making loud, boisterous or unreasonable noise intended to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly risking that; and making abusive remarks, including racial, religious, ethnic or sexist epithets, that create an immediate threat to public safety or order.

Under § 104-4, a police or law enforcement officer who observes any of these conditions must order the person to stop and to move on or disperse, and must warn that refusal to comply, or resuming the activity, is itself a violation. Section 104-5 sets a separate process for minors: an officer takes the minor's name, address, age and parent's name, sends the minor home, and the Police Department's Juvenile Division mails certified notice to the parents. Section 104-6 makes a parent who knowingly permits repeat violations after such notice personally liable and subject to penalties.