Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ordinance Panhandling topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Litchfield council adopts ordinance restricting aggressive panhandling, sets fines
Summary
The Litchfield City Council adopted an ordinance defining and restricting aggressive panhandling, designating high‑risk locations (ATMs, school entrances, traffic lanes/medians) and authorizing fines up to $250 per day for violations; the vote was recorded by roll call.
LITCHFIELD, Ky. — The Litchfield City Council on Tuesday adopted an ordinance that defines and restricts aggressive panhandling, begging and charitable or political solicitation in specified public places and establishes fines for violations.
During the second and final reading, Arlene read the ordinance’s preamble and definitions, which say aggressive panhandling includes confronting a person in a way that would cause a reasonable person to fear bodily harm, touching someone without consent, using obscene or abusive language while soliciting, blocking passage, or continuing to solicit after being refused. The ordinance also distinguishes passive solicitation and permits nonthreatening, nonaggressive solicitations except where specifically prohibited.
The ordinance lists locations with “heightened personal safety concerns” where solicitation will be restricted, including areas within 20 feet of automated teller machines and financial institutions, school buildings or playgrounds during school activities, entrances to public restrooms, and certain congested commercial areas. It also bars solicitation in traffic or travel lanes and on medians within public streets and highways, saying those areas are inherently dangerous and interfere with traffic flow.
Arlene explained the ordinance language and said the chapter adopts standard definitions (referencing Kentucky Revised Statutes for the definition of financial institutions). The ordinance prescribes a penalty of up to $250 for each day of violation, with each day constituting a separate offense.
The council called for a roll call vote after a motion and a second were made; the clerk recorded affirmative votes and the ordinance advanced on the recorded vote.
The ordinance text will be enforced as written; the council did not add exemptions beyond those noted in the language. The city attorney (Arlene) offered to provide full ordinance copies to council members and to distribute a summary to the council packets.
What’s next: The ordinance was adopted following a recorded vote. Any enforcement procedures and public information steps will be handled by city staff and law enforcement under the ordinance’s provisions.
