Release date: December 11, 2017
Incident: Panhandling Ordinance Notification
Members of Warner Robins city council have implemented a new city ordinance to curb the number of panhandlers in our town. Recently our agency has noticed excessive, aggressive forms of panhandling. This city ordinance is not intended to impede one’s first amendment rights, however it is being implemented to protect our community’s security, privacy and freedom of movement of both residents and visitors.
The ordinance defines “Aggressive begging, panhandling, or solicitation” as:
- Confronting someone in a way that would cause a reasonable person to fear bodily harm.
- Accosting an individual by approaching or speaking to the individual or individuals in such a manner as would cause a reasonable person to fear imminent bodily armor the commission of a criminal act upon his or her person, or upon property in his or her immediate possession.
- Touching someone without his or her consent.
- Using obscene or abusive language toward someone while attempting to panhandle or solicit him or her.
To ensure that our community members that are truly in need receive the help they need we are asking representatives from local organizations that have the means to serve including
nonprofits, churches, food banks, shelters, etc. to contact us in regards to being added to an
on-call list.
Our hope is that our on-call list will serve as a source of aid to those truly in need. To be added to our Serving the Community on-call list please contact Public Information Officer, Jennifer Parson at (478) 302-5417 or by email at jparson@wrga.gov. Please provide at least one
representative’s name, organization and contact information.
