Understanding roadside solicitation
Why where you give matters
Asking people for money in public, often called panhandling, is protected free speech. This site is not designed to shame or hurt anyone in need. Our goal is to explain the challenges and risks of certain types of solicitation, for the person giving and the person asking.
Many people want to help someone who appears to be in need. That urge should come with an understanding of the risks. Giving on a busy roadside, or alone on a city sidewalk, can put you and the person asking at risk of injury. Cash may also do more harm for someone with an addiction or mental illness who needs trained professionals.
People with signs often ask for money on highway ramps and even in the roadway. This is dangerous for them and potentially for the person giving. Think first about pedestrian accidents and personal injury liability before handing money to someone walking through traffic. Roadside and aggressive solicitation should be discouraged.
To give without the risk of intimidation or injury, choose one of the groups on our list. Your gift is often wrapped in services, treatment and advice, and it encourages people in need to seek out the organizations that can bring real change to their lives.
Solicitation rules in the City of Albany
Quality of life and public safety are the building blocks of great neighborhoods. This is a plain-language summary of city rules, offered to help keep everyone safe and connect people with community services.
Permitted
- Passive solicitation
- Seeking a donation without approaching or stopping anyone, or addressing the request to a specific person.
- Active solicitation
- Seeking a donation by words, gestures or signs when approaching or stopping someone, outside the places and conduct listed here.
Prohibited in certain places
- Within 10 feet of an entrance or exit of a bank or check cashing business during business hours.
- Within 10 feet of an ATM while it is available to customers, or inside an ATM facility without permission.
- Approaching a vehicle on a street in an aggressive manner to ask for money or offer goods or services.
- On private property without the property owner’s permission.
Aggressive solicitation is prohibited in any public place
That includes:
- Approaching, speaking to or following a person in a way that causes them to fear harm to themselves, someone else or their property; intimidates them into giving; or causes unreasonable annoyance or alarm.
- Intentionally touching a person or an occupied vehicle without consent while soliciting.
- Intentionally blocking or interfering with the safe, free passage of a pedestrian or vehicle, including forcing evasive action.
- Using violent or threatening gestures toward the person solicited.
Summary only, not legal advice. Read the current text in the Albany City Code.
Report a violation
To report a possible violation of these city rules, call the Albany Police Department. If it is an emergency, call 911.