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BOOK ; 0 PJGF i8-3 AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN FORMS OF AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF LEE: SECTION 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. (a) The Board finds that the increase in aggressive solicitation throughout the County has become extremely disturbing and disruptive to residents and businesses, and has contributed not only to the loss of access to and the enjoyment of public places, but also to an enhanced sense of fear, intimidation, and disorder. (b) Aggressive solicitation usually includes approaching or following pedestrians, repetitive soliciting despite refusals, and the use of abusive or profane language to cause fear and intimidation, unwanted physical contact, or the intentional blocking of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. (c) The Board further finds that the presence of individuals who solicit money from persons at or near banks, automated teller machines, or in public transportation vehicles is especially troublesome because of the enhanced fear of crime in those confined environments. Motorist also find themselves confronted by persons seeking money who, without permission, wash their automobile windows at traffic intersections, despite explicit indications by drivers not to do so. Such activity carries with it an implicit threat both to persons and property. People driving or parking on public streets and highways frequently find themselves faced with persons seeking money by offering to open car doors or locate parking spaces. (d) The Board is enacting this Ordinance pursuit to its police power as stated in North Carolina General Statute §153A-126 and the other provisions in Article 6 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes of North Carolina. This law is timely and appropriate because state regulations are insufficient to address the aforementioned problems. (e) The law is not intended to limit any person from exercising their constitutional right to solicit funds, picket, protest, or engage in other constitutionally protected activity. Rather, its goal is to protect citizens from the fear and intimidation accompanying certain kinds of solicitation that have become an unwelcome and overwhelming presence in the County.