What is aggressive panhandling

Passive panhandling is soliciting without threat or menace, often without any words exchanged at all—just a cup or a hand held out. Aggressive panhandling is soliciting coercively, with actual or implied threats, or menacing actions. If a panhandler uses physical force or extremely aggressive actions, the panhandling may constitute robbery. Isolated incidents of passive panhandling are usually a low police priority.

Even where it is illegal, police usually tolerate passive panhandling, for both legal and practical reasons. Police can reasonably conclude that, absent citizen complaints, their time is better spent addressing more serious problems. Whether panhandling and other forms of street disorder cause or contribute to more serious crime—the broken windows thesis—is hotly debated, but the debate is as yet unsettled.

Merchants are most likely to call police when panhandling disrupts their commerce. Employees, especially younger employees, are less likely to do so because they have less at stake if panhandling disrupts business Goldstein Broadly speaking, public policy perspectives on panhandling are of two types—the sympathetic view and the unsympathetic view. The sympathetic view, commonly but not unanimously held by civil libertarians and homeless advocates, is that panhandling is essential to destitute people's survival, and should not be regulated by police.

People's opinions about panhandling are rooted in deeply held beliefs about individual liberty, public order and social responsibility. Their opinions are also shaped by their actual exposure to panhandling—the more people are panhandled, the less sympathetic they are toward panhandlers. This tension between opposing viewpoints will undoubtedly always exist.

This guide takes a more neutral stance: without passing judgment on the degree of sympathy owed to panhandlers, it recognizes that police will always be under some pressure to control panhandling, and that there are effective and fair ways to do so. Panhandling and its variants are only one form of disorderly street conduct and street crime about which police are concerned. Other forms—not directly addressed in this guide—include:.

Some of these other forms of disorderly street conduct may also be attributable to panhandlers, but this is not necessarily so. These problems overlap in various ways, and a local analysis of them will be necessary to understand how they do. Understanding the factors that contribute to your panhandling problem will help you frame your own local analysis questions, determine good effectiveness measures, recognize key intervention points, and select appropriate responses.

Panhandling intimidates some people, even causing some to avoid areas where they believe they will be panhandled. Whether panhandling intimidates passersby depends, of course, on how aggressive or menacing the panhandler is, but it also depends on the context in which panhandling occurs.

In other words, an act of panhandling in one context might not be intimidating, but the same behavior in a different context might. Typically, relatively few panhandlers account for most complaints to police about panhandling. Contrary to common belief, panhandlers and homeless people are not necessarily one and the same. Many studies have found that only a small percentage of homeless people panhandle, and only a small percentage of panhandlers are homeless. Contact law enforcement if the panhandler won't leave you alone.

Aggressive panhandling is illegal in almost every country and state. If a panhandler won't leave you alone, contact emergency services and request police assistance.

Inform a nearby business owner of the problem if they're outside of a business. If a panhandler is operating near a store, go inside when they bother you and ask to speak to a manager. The foot traffic in the area will be negatively impacted by the panhandler, and this will mean that the business has an incentive to deal with the issue.

They may also be able to offer advice or insight into how to deal with a specific panhandler. I will tomorrow though. If you run into them again, you may cause a conflict if you don't give them anything. Why can't a panhandler just get help from Salvation Army or one of the dozen agencies my United Way helps? The Salvation Army is out there, and there are soup kitchens and shelters for the homeless that do the best they can. However, there's a segment that isn't using these services either because they were refused service because of their actions, or don't want to use them.

A few homeless may be unaware of the social services. Yes No. Not Helpful 4 Helpful 6. What do I do when young able-bodied people ask me for money and I know it's a scam? Make up an excuse. Say that you forgot your cash at home, that you have to run to an event that you're already late for, that you already donated to the cause, anything to get out of the situation without arousing suspicion.

Do keep in mind that not all disabilities are blatantly obvious, just because someone looks "able-bodied" doesn't necessarily mean they are. Not Helpful 3 Helpful 8. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

While some panhandlers may be out on the street, don't assume that a panhandler is homeless. It's dehumanizing, and often inaccurate. Some panhandlers have stable homes. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Related wikiHows How to. How to. More References 3. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: August 20, Categories: Managing Conflict and Difficult Interactions.

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 51, times. Reader Success Stories Anonymous Nov 30, Did this article help you? Provided further, that no person shall panhandle, ask or beg within an automated teller machine facility where a reasonable person would or should know that he or she does not have permission to do so from the owner or other person lawfully in possession of such facility.

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit 1 the lawful vending of goods and services in such areas, or 2 panhandling, asking or begging within the restricted area after obtaining the permission of the owner or tenant.

B Entrances and Exits to Any Building. No person shall panhandle, ask or beg within 15 feet of any entrance into or exit from any building open to the public other than those buildings subject to subsection A of this section. This prohibition shall not apply if the owner or tenant of the building grants permission to panhandle, ask or beg within the restricted area.

No person shall approach an operator or occupant of a motor vehicle for the purpose of panhandling, asking or begging while such vehicle is located in any public place. No person shall panhandle, ask or beg in any public parking lot any time after dark.