[HISTORY: As indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 9-17-2013 by Ord. No. 2164-13]
No person shall, within the boundaries of the Township, by any means or instrumentality:
A. 
Interfere with or annoy the comfort or general well-being of the inhabitants of the Township;
B. 
Disturb the public peace and quiet by loud, boisterous or vulgar conduct;
C. 
Create or participate in a diversion, disturbance or disorderly assemblage, in any public place, tending to breach the peace;
D. 
Engage in acts of vice and immorality in any public place; or
E. 
Obstruct or interfere with any person lawfully being in a public place.
The penalty for the first violation of this article shall be a fine not to exceed $2,000 and/or a period of community service not to exceed 30 days; for a subsequent offense within a one-year period from the initial violation, the penalty shall be a fine not to exceed $2,000 and/or a period of community service not to exceed 60 days.
[Adopted 4-16-2014 by Ord. No. 2182-14]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AGGRESSIVE MANNER
A. 
Approaching or speaking to a person, or following a person before, during or after panhandling, if that conduct is likely to cause a reasonable person to:
(1) 
Fear bodily harm to oneself or is another, damage to or loss of property; or
(2) 
Otherwise be intimidated into giving money, goods or other things of value.
B. 
Approaching an occupied vehicle by entering into the roadway when traffic is either stopped or moving, before, during or after panhandling;
C. 
Knocking on the window of, or physically reaching toward or into an occupied vehicle before, during or after panhandling;
D. 
Continuing to solicit from a person after the person has given a negative response to such panhandling;
E. 
Intentionally touching or causing physical contact with another person without that person's consent in the course of panhandling;
F. 
Intentionally blocking or interfering with the safe or free passage of a pedestrian or vehicle by any means, including causing a pedestrian or vehicle operator to take evasive action to avoid physical contact before, during or after panhandling;
G. 
Using violent or threatening gestures toward a person before, during or after panhandling;
H. 
Using profane, offensive or abusive language which is inherently likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction, either before, during or after panhandling;
I. 
Following a person while panhandling with the intent of asking that person for money, goods or other things of value.
INTERSECTION
The intersection of the lateral curblines, or if none, the lateral boundary lines of the roadway, of two roads that join one another at approximately right angles.
PANHANDLING
Asking for money or objects of value, with the intention that the money or object be transferred at that time, and at that place. Panhandling shall include using the spoken, written, or printed words, bodily gestures, signs, or other means with the purpose obtaining an immediate donation of money or other thing of value.
PUBLIC PLACE
A place where a governmental entity has title or to which the public or a substantial group of persons has access, including, but not limited to, any street, highway, parking lot, transportation facility, shopping center, school, place of amusement, park or playground.
It is unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to:
A. 
Panhandle in an aggressive manner in any public place; any supermarket, mall, retail store, restaurant or bar; any public transportation vehicle or at any bus stop; any parking lot or parking structure accessible to the general public and within any intersection in the Township.
This article shall not affect the individuals, groups, sporting organizations, military organizations, religious groups and any other organization that completes an application to solicit with the Lawrence Township Municipal Clerk in an effort to raise money for their said groups.
A. 
The Chief of Police or his designee is authorized to enforce this article.
B. 
Citizens may bring complaints against violators of this article.
The penalty for the first violation of this section shall be a fine not to exceed $2,000 and/or a period of community service not to exceed 30 days; for a subsequent offense within a one-year period from the initial violation, the penalty shall be a fine not to exceed $2,000 and/or a period of community service not to exceed 60 days.
If any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this article shall be declared invalid for any reason the remaining portions of this article shall not be affected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect.