Dubuque's New Ordinance Seeks to Combat Panhandlers

A new ordinance in Dubuque seeks to combat the litany of panhandlers that can be seen traversing several of the city's busiest intersections on any given day.

As of Tuesday, January 20th, 2026, the ordinance makes it illegal for pedestrians to occupy roadway medians and roundabouts. Dubuque Police Chief Jeremy Jensen said the ordinance was in response to "daily complaints" of panhandlers on busy streets; their presence could lead to both them and drivers getting involved in serious accidents.

Dubuque Police's Statement on the New Ordinance:

Jensen went on to contextualize the ordinance as imperative for roadway safety:

Plain and simple, pedestrians do not win against vehicles. If a vehicle hits a person, the person loses. [Medians] are narrow. They’re along these high speed roads. They’re made for traversing, not standing in it and moving up and down it - Dubuque Police Chief Jeremy Jensen, per KCRG

Though the ordinance will prohibit anyone from occupying the narrow medians that exist on various Dubuque streets, including Locust Street, Highway 20, and the Northwest Arterial, it seems it'll most prominently impact panhandlers.

Fines for Occupying Medians:

Per KCRG, police an fine people in roadway medians up to $750 for their first offense, and $1,000 for every subsequent violation. However, Jensen stated that the fine would be waived unless the person repeatedly refuses to leave the area:

Dubuque City Attorney Crenna Brumwell also vocalized support for the new ordinance:

The practice is this is not about money. This is about achieving compliance. In some instances, we will do the $750 fine and we will suspend it so long as there are no more violations within a certain period of time, so there is no outlay of any fine needed, but it remains out there as a mechanism or a motivation for compliance - Dubuque City Attorney Crenna Brumwell, per KCRG