The Snellville City Council recently approved the Aggressive Solicitation Ordinance after police Chief Roy Whitehead reported on people asking shoppers for money in an aggressive manner in city shopping centers. The ordinance closely tracks Gwinnett’s version of the law.
The measure was approved 4-1. Councilman Roger Marmol voted against the ordinance.
The ordinance is designed to keep those asking for money in parking lots from having physical contact with the person being solicited, following the person,and generally scaring or intimidating those they ask for money.
Unless a property owner gives someone permission and they have documentation saying so, solicitors are prohibited from asking for money within 15 feet of any financial institution, check cashing business, or automated teller machine.
It is also unlawful for any person to knowingly make a false or misleading representation during a solicitation including claims the solicitor is homeless when they are not, physically disabled when they are not, or claims to be a U.S. military veteran when they are not.
Convicted violators may be punished by imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both.
Additional information: www.snellville.org/council-approves-new-‘aggressive’-solicitation-ordinance.
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