Same—Additional definitions.
Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-52.4
in effectSec. 16-52.4. - Same—Additional definitions.
Except where the content otherwise specifically requires, as used in the ordinance codified in this section, the following definitions apply:
Aggressive means and includes, but is not limited to, approaching or following pedestrians, repetitive soliciting despite refusals, the use of abusive or profane language to cause fear and intimidation, unwanted physical contact, the intentional blocking of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, the touching or causing physical contact with a solicited person without that person's consent or threatening to make such contact, the intentional blocking of the entrance to any building or vehicle, the following behind, ahead or alongside a person who walks away from a solicitor after being solicited with the intent to intimidate or continue solicitation, the approaching of a solicited person in a manner that is intended to or is likely to cause a reasonable person to fear imminent bodily harm or the commission of a criminal act upon property in the person's possession or is intended to or is likely to intimidate a reasonable person into responding affirmatively to the solicitation, or the soliciting of a person while the solicitor is under the influence of alcohol or drugs in a manner which disrupts the peace. Aggressive includes, but is not limited to, by acting in a manner while committing an assault, by committing a battery, or in a manner which violates the provisions of this section.
Assault means any of the following:
(1) The performing of an act:
(i) With the intent to cause a harmful or offensive contact with the person of another or a third person, or an imminent apprehension of such contact; and
(ii) The other person is thereby put in such imminent apprehension; or
(2) A "simple assault" as defined in Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-7(1)(a), which states that a person is guilty of simple assault if he or she:
(i) Attempts to cause or purposely, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another;
(ii) Negligently causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon or other means likely to produce death or serious bodily harm; or
(iii) Attempts by physical menace to put another in fear of imminent serious bodily harm; or
(3) As otherwise defined under Mississippi law.
Disturbance of the public peace means any conduct that is in violation of Miss. Code Ann. § 97-35-13 or § 97-35-15, including the use of violent, or loud, or insulting, or profane, or indecent, or offensive, or boisterous conduct or language, or intimidation, or seeking to intimidate any other person or persons, or conduct either calculated to provoke a breach of the peace, or conduct which may lead to a breach of the peace.
False imprisonment means the confinement of a person within boundaries fixed by another, without legal justification, by an act or the breach of a duty intended to result in such confinement.
Obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic means to walk, stand, sit, lie, or place an object in such a manner as to block passage of another person or a vehicle, or to require another person or driver of a vehicle to take evasive action to avoid physical contact. Acts authorized as an exercise of one's constitutional right to picket or to legally protest, and acts authorized by a lawfully issued permit pursuant to this Code are not included within this definition.
Panhandle means to ask for, demand or solicit money, gifts or donations, either by words, bodily gestures, signs or other means. The terms panhandle, solicit and beg are synonymous in meaning. Panhandling is any solicitation made in person, requesting an immediate donation of money or other thing of value. Purchase of an item for an amount far exceeding its normal market value, under circumstances where a reasonable person would understand that the purchase is, in substance, a donation, is a donation for the purpose of the ordinance codified in this section. Panhandling does not include passively standing or sitting with a sign or other indication that one is seeking donations at a location not prohibited by this section and not in a manner prohibited by the ordinance codified in this section.
Private building includes, but is not limited to, retail or service establishments, such as restaurants, convenience food stores, laundromats, service stations, hotels, offices and similar establishments open to the public. This term does not include any building owned, leased or operated by the federal or state government, or their political subdivisions, municipalities, special districts, any public administration board or authority of the state.
Private developed property includes, but is not limited to, a parking lot, driveway, walkway and landscaped areas.
Public building means any building or facility owned, leased or operated by or on behalf of the federal or state government or any of their political subdivisions, any municipality, or special district or any public administrative board or authority of the federal or state government.
Public entertainment venue means a place that is open to the public (whether or not upon payment of a fee for admission and whether or not the management reserves the right to exclude individual members of the public) for entertainment. The term includes, but is not limited to, cinemas, parks, theatres, concert halls, electronic games centers, indoor sports centers, art galleries, museums, and premises upon which any display or exhibition promoted as such is conducted.
Public place means an area generally visible to public view and includes alleys, bridges, buildings, driveways, parking lots, parks, plazas, sidewalks and streets open to the general public, including, but not limited to, public entertainment venues, those that serve food or drink or provide entertainment, and the doorways and entrances to buildings or dwellings and the grounds enclosing them.
Public room includes a basement, building entrance or doorway, lobby, hallway, stairway, mezzanine, elevator, foyer, public restroom or sitting room or any other place used in common by the public, tenants, occupants or guests situated in any private building.
Public transportation area means a building, facility or area designated for mass transit transportation, such as, but not limited to, bus terminals, bus stops and taxi stands.
Sign means a display, light, device, figure, painting, drawing, message, plaque, poster, billboard, or other thing which is designated, intended or used to advertise, inform, panhandle, or solicit, any part of which is visibly displayed.
Solicit means any plea made in person where:
(1) A person by vocal appeal requests an immediate donation of money or other item from another person; or
(2) A person verbally offers or actively provides an item or service of little or no value to another in exchange for a donation, under circumstances where a reasonable person would understand that the transaction is in substance a donation.
(Ord. No. 4527, 11-19-19)
Source: City of Meridian, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/meridian/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH16OFMIPR_ARTIINGE_S16-52.4SADDDEFetched: 11/1/2026