Aggressively asking passersby for money and other goods or services will soon be illegal in the city of Orange.

The new rule adopted recently by the City Council, is not a blanket ban on panhandling – it specifically forbids solicitors from blocking someone’s path, making physical contact, following them after the person has declined giving them anything, or otherwise doing anything that would make a reasonable person fear for his or her safety.

The law will take affect 30 days after the council votes a second time to enact the rules at its next council meeting.

Cracking down on panhandling was proposed as council members recently discussed further possible actions on the city’s increasing homelessness issue, though council members said the ordinance goes beyond that population.

“It’s not just the homeless that solicit. It’s people that see that they can take advantage of good-hearted people. That’s what happens in this city,” Councilman Mike Alvarez said. “If a homeless person or a professional panhandler decides to cross that line, he needs to be confronted by the law.”

Alvarez mentioned his experiences talking with owners of businesses along Katella Avenue, a majority of whom he said have “horror stories” to share of their bad experiences with panhandlers.

Council members made mention of other problem areas such as the Trader Joe’s at the corner of Meats Avenue and Tustin Street, as well as the Ralphs at Main Street and Chapman Avenue.

Mayor Teresa “Tita” Smith said public safety must be considered in the face of solicitors who too often turn aggressive when turned down.

“It is not the intention of us and the city of Orange to criminalize the poor,” Smith said. “It is our public charge, however, to keep our community safe. And there are incidents where people are extremely aggressive when the answer is ‘no, sorry, not today.’”