Chicago’s 14 year city ordinance banning aggressive panhandling was repealed in November 2018. Many of our clients and contacts have questions about this change and how this may impact their security program going forward.
Bill McCaffrey, a spokesman for the city’s Law Department, issued a statement saying the city “determined that the section covering aggressive panhandling was unnecessary and that public safety remains fully protected by other sections of the municipal code.”(Sun Times). To read the full Sun Times article, click here.
Although the City of Chicago has repealed the aggressive panhandling ordinance, charges may still be filed depending on circumstances. Alternative circumstances where you may consider contacting the Chicago Police Department include:
- Threats or Intimidation in Public Spaces
- Requires an individual to threaten or intimidate another person in a public space
- Assault
- Requires knowingly engaging in conduct that places another person in reasonable apprehension of receiving battery
- Battery
- Requires a person to knowingly cause bodily harm to, or make physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with, an individual
- Bullying
- Requires an intentional act that causes harm to others that involves verbal harassment, threats, physical assault, stalking, or other methods of coercion which is reasonably likely to intimidate, emotionally abuse, slander, or threaten another person
- Disorderly Conduct
- Requires, in pertinent part, any act done in such an unreasonable manner as to alarm and disturb another and to provoke a breach of peace
- Trespassing
- Requires, in pertinent part, entry onto the property of another after notice from the owner or occupant immediately prior to entry that the entry is forbidden
- Obstruction or Interference with Traffic
- Requires the willful and unnecessary hindering, obstructing, or delaying, or attempts thereof, of any other person lawfully driving or travelling upon any street, or offering to sell any merchandise or services on the street as to interfere with the effective movement of traffic, or the repeated causing of motor vehicles travelling on the public thoroughfares to stop or impede the flow of traffic
Tags: Pannadling Public Spaces security