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HIGH POINT - You can ask for spare change, but you can't demand it.

That's the difference between panhandling and harassment, said supporters of High Point's new ban on aggressive solicitation. The City Council approved the new ordinance Tuesday.

"It's not aimed at homeless people who are asking for help," said City Councilman Mike Pugh, who proposed the ordinance. "We're talking about people who follow you, who threaten, who are aggressive and won't stop. That's dangerous and that's got to stop."

Pugh said he brought the ordinance to the council because residents and business owners came to him saying the problem had gotten worse.

"We have mothers walking their children from a store to the car in a parking lot and people blocking their way until they give them money," Pugh said.

"That is just unacceptable. Now we're giving our police a tool to deal with that."

When the ordinance first came before the council early this month, some councilmen worried it would target homeless people. After more discussion - including input from the High Point police - the council was persuaded.

Police Chief Jim Fealy said the ordinance is modeled after one created in Austin, Texas, when he was assistant chief there. He said the ban - effective immediately - strikes a good balance between protecting the rights of panhandlers and the rights of those they approach.

"Panhandling might be annoying," Fealy said. "But we're not going to say you don't have the right to approach someone on the street and ask them a question. We're just saying that intimidation and threatening behavior is a problem. You can't harass people."

Pugh said he hopes to pass two more ordinances - against public drinking and public urination - that are now in the council's public safety committee.

"All these things I'm proposing are just about having a civil society," Pugh said. "If you want to live in a safe and civil place then there are things that you just shouldn't be doing in public."

Contact Joe Killian at 883-4422, Ext. 228, or joe.killian@news-record.com