§ 13-2007. BEGGING.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person to beg or panhandle as defined in §13-2031 of this Code upon the streets or any other public property without first obtaining a permit from the Chief of Police or his designee.

(b)

Application for the permit shall be in writing on a form furnished by the Chief and shall be submitted to the Police Department at least forty-eight (48) hours before the first day sought for begging. The application shall include the full legal name of the applicant, the applicant's address, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses, and any other information needed to establish the applicant's identity. The applicant shall also provide picture identification at the time the application is submitted or, if picture identification is impractical, the applicant shall provide other documentation that definitively establishes identity. The Chief shall grant the permit unless:

(1)

The application contains a false or fraudulent statement; or

(2)

The applicant has been convicted of violating begging or panhandling ordinances within the twelve (12) months prior to the application date.

The Chief shall grant or deny the permit within twenty-four (24) hours after a completed application is submitted. An applicant may appeal a denial of a permit to the City Manager if the appeal is taken within ten (10) days after receiving actual notice of the denial.

(c)

A permit shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance or until the permit holder is convicted of a violation of the City's begging and panhandling ordinances. If a permit holder is convicted of a violation of the begging and panhandling ordinances, the holder shall not be eligible for another permit for a period of one year from the date of conviction of the offense. Any revocation of a permit pursuant to this section may be appealed to the Chief of Police, or his designee, if the appeal is taken within ten (10) days of notice of the revocation.

(d)

Issuance of a permit under this section does not authorize begging in locations where it is otherwise prohibited by law.

( Code 1959 , §15-6; Ord. No. 2011-836, §1, 2-1-11, eff. 3-18-11; Ord. No. 2012-29, §1, 3-20-12, eff. 3-25-12)

State law reference: Authority to regulate and prohibit begging, G.S. 160A-179.