Clarksville, TN Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Section
- § 10-223 (1963 Code § 19-24)
- Structure
- purpose-based, not general vagrancy
- Covers
- gambling, prostitution, drugs, schools, transit hubs
- School exception
- written permission from authorized person
- Related section
- § 10-241 prostitution-specific loitering
Summary
Clarksville's loitering offense is purpose-specific, not a general vagrancy ban. A person is guilty only when remaining in a public place to gamble, engage in or solicit prostitution, use a controlled substance unlawfully, linger at a school without a legitimate reason or permission, or solicit business in a transportation facility without authorization.
A person is guilty of loitering when he:(1)Loiters or remains in a public place for the purpose of gambling with cards, dice, or other gambling paraphernalia; or(2)Loiters or remains in a public place for the purpose of engaging in or agreeing or offering to engage in prostitution; or(3)Loiters or remains in a public place for the purpose of unlawfully using a controlled substance; or(4)Loiters or remains in or about a school, college, or university building or grounds, not having any reason or relationship involving custody of or responsibility for a pupil or student or any other specific legitimate reason for being there and not having written permission from anyone authorized to grant it; or(5)Loiters or remains in any transportation facility, unless specifically authorized to do so, for the purpose of soliciting or engaging in any business, trade, or commercial transactions involving the sale of merchandise or services.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 110 Update 2 | Zoning Ordinance: Supplement 6).
Full Breakdown
Section 10-223, carried forward from 1963 Code § 19-24, lists five specific circumstances that make loitering a chargeable offense in Clarksville rather than defining loitering broadly. A person is guilty when they loiter or remain in a public place for the purpose of gambling with cards, dice, or other gambling paraphernalia; for the purpose of engaging in, agreeing to, or offering to engage in prostitution; for the purpose of unlawfully using a controlled substance; in or about a school, college, or university building or grounds without any reason or relationship involving custody of or responsibility for a student and without written permission from someone authorized to grant it; or in any transportation facility, without specific authorization, for the purpose of soliciting or engaging in business, trade, or commercial transactions involving the sale of merchandise or services.
A related but separate offense, § 10-241, addresses loitering specifically for the purpose of engaging in prostitution near residences and other places, layered on top of the general loitering section. Because § 10-223 requires proof of one of the five listed purposes, mere presence in a public place, without more, is not enough to sustain a citation under this section.
Violations & Fines
A loitering charge under § 10-223 requires the city to prove the person was remaining in a public place for one of five listed purposes: gambling, prostitution-related conduct, unlawful drug use, unauthorized presence at a school, or unpermitted solicitation in a transportation facility. It is a Title 10 offense; the section does not print a fixed dollar fine, and school-grounds loitering additionally requires the absence of written permission from an authorized person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be cited for just standing around in public in Clarksville?
Is it illegal to hang around a Clarksville school without a reason?
What's the difference between § 10-223 and § 10-241?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clarksville
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