Torrington City Council
8/17/26 Council and Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) meeting opened at 6:30 p.m.
Present: Mayor Molly Spino City Councilors Chris Beyus, Armand Maniccia, Anne Ruwet, Rachel Hannon-Harrel and David Oliver, and Councilor Paul Cavagnero.
“Aggressive” solicitation or panhandling will soon have a cost in Torrington.
The Council unanimously approved at its Aug. 17 meeting revisions to the City’s local laws on “peddling and soliciting,” essentially adding a fine of $100 for people who violate the ordinance for the first time and $250 for every subsequent offense.
The prohibited conduct, according to the City’s local codes, is the unauthorized solicitation of money, food, beverages, or any items of financial value in any form. The law also prohibits the continued solicitation of any individual after they have already declined the solicitation verbally.
Areas where this law applies include any area designated for outdoor business, dining, municipal parks or trails. The law also applies in areas within 50 feet of an ATM, bank, parking payment kiosks, and government-owned parks or trails. Broadly, local codes also state that peddling and soliciting is not allowed in areas where, due to heightened vehicle or foot traffic, there is an increased risk of injury, increased congestion, or interference with ingress and egress.
“In reviewing this, it's the aggressive solicitor that we believe is what the target is with these new additions to the ordinance,” said Torrington City Police Department Deputy Chief Bart Barown.
“It's not going to completely eliminate it. It's going to give us an additional tool like we were looking for — with the fine and everything.”
As police prepare to institute fines in accordance with the changes to the law, Barown said he recommended local business owners install signs that illustrate the purpose and consequences of the local ordinance.
“That's our recommendation, and a lot of times, even with trespassing, we have the same thing,” Barown noted. “We make the same recommendation to businesses. As long as it's posted, people are clearly advised, then we can take enforcement action. No loitering, no solicitation. This gives us additional tools to handle the problematic solicitors that are bouncing in and out.”
Barown said other municipalities like the Town of Stonington and the City of Middletown have already adopted versions of local laws with language similar to Torrington’s.
Ruwet praised the new language on the local ordinance, adding that it is an opportunity for law enforcement to address a complicated situation. Ruwet highlighted the TJ Maxx and Staple locations in Torrington as places where incidents that residents have complained about have occurred.
“As councilmen and women, we've heard multiple complaints,” Ruwet said. “I think this is giving our police officers a little more ability to manage a situation that has become, I think, very very difficult in those parking areas.”
Barown said localities have indeed faced difficulties with “aggressive soliciting.” Barown said he has communicated with Connecticut State's Attorney's Offices to discuss laws like Torrington’s solicitation ordinance. The State's Attorneys serve as the chief prosecutors for their respective 13 judicial districts across Connecticut.
“It's inherently a difficult thing for cities, this type of stuff, because people have the ability and freedom to ask for help, and this is sometimes where location is the issue. I think the ordinance outlines where and when they can do it.”
For displays of public disturbance that are egregious, Barown said, law enforcement has other tools afforded by the state.
“We can look at additional things as far as state infractions for creating public disturbance, or summons for disorderly conduct, different things like that, for very egregious incidents,” Barown said.
