Same—Prohibited and unlawful acts.
Meridian Code of Ordinances § 16-52.5
in effectSec. 16-52.5. - Same—Prohibited and unlawful acts.
(a) It is prohibited and unlawful for a person to interfere with pedestrians or motor vehicles if he or she obstructs pedestrian or vehicular traffic or aggressively panhandles on a right-of-way, road or street as defined above, as the ordinance codified in this section may be amended from time to time, which terms include, but are not limited to, associated sidewalks and crosswalks.
(b) It is prohibited and unlawful for a person to panhandle in any public room, in any private building, or on private developed property, without the permission or consent of the building's owner or managing and authorizing agent. For the purpose of enforcement of this subsection, it is rebuttably presumed that if the owner, lessee, managing agent or other person in charge of a building prominently displays a sign, as defined in subsection 16-52.4(n), then the activities declared unlawful in this subsection are deemed to be without the permission or consent of the building's owner, lessee, managing agent or other authorized person. This section does not limited a private business owner from giving permission to organizations, such as the Salvation Army, to solicit donations notwithstanding the display of a sign.
(c) It is prohibited and unlawful for any person to obstruct, impede or interfere with the movement of pedestrians or vehicles, for the purpose of panhandling, within a public building, the parcel of land on which a public building is located, or a public transportation area.
(d) It is prohibited and unlawful for any person to panhandle when the person solicited is located on private property, unless the panhandler has permission from the owner or occupant of the private property.
(e) It is prohibited and unlawful for any person to aggressively panhandle in any public place within the city which public places include, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, the following places:
(1) At any bus or train stop;
(2) In any public transportation vehicle or facility, including, but not limited to, airports, roads, streets and right-of-way;
(3) In any vehicle on a street unless a permit has been issued to do so;
(4) In a public park, fairground, or sporting facility, including, but not limited to, entryways or exits thereto;
(5) Within a circumference of twenty-five (25) feet of the site of any automated teller machine (ATM), a vending machine or any other machine dispensing cash or within a painted "privacy zone" painted on the ground around an ATM, whichever distance is less, all of which are subject to the permitting requirements of the city if such painted zone encompasses area within a road or right-of-way;
(6) In a parking lot or garage owned or operated by the city, including, but not limited to, entryways or exits and pay stations connected to the parking lot or garage;
(7) Within one thousand (1,000) feet of a school bus stop when children are present.
(f) It is prohibited and unlawful for any person to panhandle in any of the following manners each of which will rebuttably be deemed to be aggressive:
(1) By blocking the path of the person solicited;
(2) By, engaging in conduct that constitutes a "disturbance of the public peace" as defined above or pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 97-35-13 or § 97-35-15, either during the solicitation or following a refusal;
(3) By panhandling in a group of two or more persons which would encircle the person begin solicited and deter his or her free movement, or otherwise constitute a "false imprisonment" as defined above or pursuant to Mississippi law; or
(4) By any statement, gesture, communication, or other act that constitutes an "assault" as defined above or pursuant to Mississippi law.
(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_S16-52.5SAROUNACFetched: 11/1/2026