Gastonia, NC Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)

Section 5-20 of the Gastonia Code of Ordinances targets loitering tied to drug activity rather than loitering generally. chapter 90, article 5. A Gastonia police officer may arrest someone under this section when the totality of circumstances establishes probable cause, drawing on ten enumerated factors: repeatedly beckoning to or stopping passersby or motor vehicles, repeatedly interfering with the free passage of others, being a known unlawful drug user or seller, behaving in a way that creates reasonable suspicion of drug activity, repeatedly exchanging money or objects with passersby, fleeing from an officer, frequenting a known drug location, occupying a vehicle registered to a known drug offender, or exchanging money or objects with the occupants of such a vehicle.

"Repeatedly" is defined in the ordinance as three or more times. "Public place" is written broadly to include streets, sidewalks, parks, schools, apartment common areas, businesses open to the public, and any private property adjoining those areas to which the public has ready access. A "known unlawful drug user, possessor, or seller" means someone previously convicted of a drug crime in any North Carolina court or under a substantially similar law elsewhere. The section was originally adopted as Code 1982 § 5-17 and last amended February 15, 1994.