ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville City Council voted Tuesday to expand restrictions on panhandling and solicitation in several high-traffic areas, citing more than 430 service calls in the past year related to suspicious persons, trespassing and panhandling.
The amendment to the city ordinance enlarges the existing downtown zone and adds new zones on and around Haywood Road and Patton Avenue. High-traffic zones are defined as areas with significant pedestrian and bicycle activity. Previously, the designation applied only to parts of downtown and Biltmore Village.
City officials said the change is intended to balance public safety with constitutional rights while respecting Asheville’s culture of giving.
“The City of Asheville and City Council continually strive to maintain a balance between public safety, individuals’ First Amendment rights and facilitating community members’ and visitors’ desire to give,” the city said in a statement.
What’s allowed — and what isn’t
Panhandling and solicitation remain legal on sidewalks outside of high-traffic zones. Inside those zones, verbal solicitation is prohibited. Solicitation is also banned in medians, in the street and on road shoulders.
Other restrictions prohibit panhandling:
- within 20 feet of a financial institution or ATM
- in outdoor dining areas
- within 8 feet of a bus stop or public transit station
- by blocking someone’s path or entrance to a business
- by touching someone, using threats, obscene language or gestures
- at night, or while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Violations can result in a court citation, though only a judge can impose a fine or determine if a deferred prosecution is more appropriate.
