[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Weston 11-7-1996, effective
12-26-1996 (Ch. 11, Art. I, of the 1981 Code). Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Act relating to hawkers and peddlers — See § SA-10.
Tag sales — See Ch. 175.
The following words, terms and phrases, and
their derivations, when used in this chapter, shall have the meaning
ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly
indicates a different meaning:
Includes the word "patriotic," "philanthropic," "social service,"
"health," "welfare," "benevolent," "educational," "civic," "cultural"
or "fraternal," either actual or purported.
Includes the word "alms," "money," "subscription," "property"
or any donations under the guise of a loan or money or property.
The Police Department.
The Police Chief or his duly authorized representative.
Any person who goes upon the premises of any private residence
in the Town, not having been invited by the occupant thereof, carrying
or transporting goods, wares, merchandise or personal property of
any nature and offering the same for sale. This definition also includes
any person who solicits orders and as a separate transaction makes
deliveries to purchasers as part of a scheme to evade the provisions
of this chapter.
Includes all activities ordinarily performed by a peddler
as indicated under the definition of "peddler."
A natural person or any firm, corporation, association, club,
society or other organization.
Includes all activities ordinarily performed by a solicitor
as indicated under the definition of "solicitor."
Any person who goes upon the premises of any private residence
in the Town, not having been invited by the occupant thereof, for
the purpose of taking or attempting to take orders for the sale of
goods, merchandise, wares, or other personal property of any nature
for future delivery, or for services to be performed in the future.
This definition also includes any person who, without invitation,
goes upon private property to request contribution of funds or anything
of value, or to sell goods or services, for political, charitable,
religious, or other noncommercial purposes.
It shall be unlawful for any person 18 years
of age or older to engage in peddling or solicitation activities within
the Town of Weston without first obtaining a permit issued by the
Police Department; provided, however, that the following are exempted
from the provisions of this section:
A.
Any solicitation made upon premises owned or occupied
by an organization upon whose behalf the solicitation is made;
B.
Any communication by an organization soliciting contributions
solely from persons who are members of the organization at the time
of such solicitation;
C.
Any solicitation in the form of a collection at a
regular meeting, assembly or service of a charitable person; or
D.
Any sales
by farmers and gardeners of the produce of their farms, gardens and
greenhouses, including fruit, vegetables and flowers, or the sale,
distribution and delivery of milk, teas, coffees, spices, groceries,
meats and bakery goods, sales on approval, conditional sales of merchandise,
or the taking of orders for merchandise for future delivery when full
payment is not required at the time of solicitation.[1]
A.
No person under the age of 18 shall be permitted to
engage in peddling except as provided in this section.
B.
A permit shall be obtained by a sponsoring person,
company or organization for the conduct of any peddling or solicitation
activities involving, in whole or in part, a sales force of one or
more persons under 18 years of age.
C.
The sponsor shall be responsible for supervising and
controlling the conduct of all persons, including juveniles, peddling
under the sponsor's permit.
D.
The sponsor shall provide to each individual in its
sales force a badge or other easily readable form of identification
which identifies the name of the sponsor and the name of the individual.
The sponsor shall require all individuals in its sales force to wear
such identification so that it is clearly visible at all times when
the individuals are peddling or soliciting.
Every person subject to the provisions of this
chapter shall file with the Police Department an application in writing,
on a form to be furnished by the Department, which shall provide the
following information:
A.
Proof of age, address and identification of the applicant,
to be provided through the applicant's driver's license, articles
of incorporation (for sponsors), or other legally recognized form
of identification;
B.
A brief description of the business or activity to
be conducted;
C.
The hours and location for which the right to peddle
or solicit is desired;
D.
If employed, the name, address and telephone number
of the employer or, if acting as an agent, the name, address and telephone
number of the principal who is being represented, with credentials
in written form establishing the relationship and the authority of
the employee or agent to act for the employer or principal, as the
case may be;
E.
A statement as to whether or not the applicant has
been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor or ordinance violation (other
than traffic violations), the nature of the offense or violation,
the penalty or punishment imposed, the date when and place where such
offense occurred, and other pertinent details thereof;
F.
Proof of possession of any license or permit which,
under federal, state or local laws or regulations, the applicant is
required to have in order to conduct the proposed business or which,
under any such law or regulation, would exempt the applicant from
the licensing requirements of this chapter; and
G.
Two photographs of the applicant which shall have
been taken within 60 days immediately prior to the date of filing
of the application. The photographs shall measure two inches by two
inches and show the head and shoulders of the applicant in a clear
and distinguishing manner.
At the time the application is filed with the
Police Department, a fee, as set forth by the Permit Fee Schedule
on file in the Chief of Police's office, shall accompany each permit
request. The fee may be waived for charitable nonprofit organizations.
A veteran qualified as provided in § 21-37 of the Connecticut
General Statutes shall not be required to pay the permit fee.
A.
Upon receipt of an application, the Chief of Police
shall review the application as deemed necessary to ensure the protection
of the public health, safety and general welfare.
B.
If the Chief finds the application to be satisfactory,
he shall endorse his approval on the application and shall, upon payment
of the prescribed fee, deliver the required permit to the applicant.
C.
The permit shall show the name, address and photograph
of the permittee, the class of permit issued, the kind of goods or
services to be sold or delivered, the date of issuance, and the length
of time that the permit shall be in effect. The permit shall also
show the permit number and identifying description of any vehicle
to be used in carrying on the business for which the permit is issued.
D.
A record of all permits issued shall be maintained
by the Department for a period of two years.
A.
Upon the Chief's review of the application, he may
refuse to issue a permit to the applicant under this chapter for any
of the following reasons:
(1)
The location and time of solicitation or peddling
would endanger the safety and welfare of the solicitors, peddlers
or their customers;
(2)
An investigation reveals that the applicant falsified
information on the application;
(3)
The applicant has been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor
or ordinance violation involving a sex offense, trafficking in controlled
substances, or any violent acts against persons or property, such
conviction being entered within the five years preceding the date
of application;
(4)
The applicant is a person against whom a judgment
based upon, or conviction for, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation
has been entered within the five years immediately preceding the date
of application;
(5)
There is no proof as to the authority of the applicant
to serve as an agent to the principal; or
(6)
The applicant has been denied a permit under this
chapter within the immediate past year, unless the applicant can and
does show to the satisfaction of the Chief that the reasons for such
earlier denial no longer exist.
B.
The Chief's disapproval and the reasons for disapproval
shall be noted on the application, and the applicant shall be notified
that his application is disapproved and that no permit will be issued.
Notice shall be mailed to the applicant at the address shown on the
application form or at the applicant's last known address.
All permits issued under the provisions of this
chapter shall expire 30 days from the date of issuance, unless an
earlier expiration date is noted on the permit.
At the same time the permit is issued, the Chief
shall issue to each permittee a badge, which shall be worn by the
permittee in such a way as to be conspicuous at all times while the
permittee is soliciting or peddling in the Town.
Every person required to obtain a permit under
the provisions of this chapter shall exhibit the permit when requested
to do so by any prospective customer or by a member of the Police
Department.
It shall be unlawful for any person other than
the permittee to use or wear any permit or badge issued under the
provisions of this chapter.
It shall be unlawful for any person, whether
licensed or unlicensed, while conducting the business of a peddler
or solicitor, to enter upon any residential premises in the Town where
the owner, occupant or person legally in charge of the premises has
posted, at the entry to the premises, or at the entry to the principal
building on the premises, a sign bearing the words "No Peddlers,"
"No Solicitors," or words of similar import.
No person, while conducting the activities of
a peddler or solicitor, whether licensed or unlicensed, shall enter
upon any private property, knock on doors or otherwise disturb persons
in their residences between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.
Any permit issued under this chapter may be
revoked or suspended by the Chief of Police or his authorized representative,
after notice and hearing, for any of the following reasons:
A.
Fraud, misrepresentation or false statement contained
in the application for a permit;
B.
Fraud, misrepresentation or false statement made by
the permittee in the course of conducting solicitation or peddling
activities;
C.
Conducting peddling or solicitation activities contrary
to the provisions contained in the permit;
D.
Conviction for any crime involving moral turpitude;
or
E.
Conducting peddling or solicitation activities in
such a manner as to create a public nuisance, constitute a breach
of the peace or endanger the health, safety or general welfare of
the public.
Notice of a hearing for revocation of a permit
issued under this chapter shall be provided in writing and shall set
forth specifically the grounds for the proposed revocation and the
time and place of the hearing. Notice shall be mailed, postage prepaid,
to the permittee at the address shown on the permit application or
at the last known address of the permittee.
A.
Any person aggrieved by the action or decision of
the Chief of Police to deny, suspend or revoke a permit applied for
under the provisions of this chapter shall have the right to appeal
such action or decision to the Selectmen within 15 days after the
notice of the action or decision has been mailed to the person's address
as shown on the permit application form or to his last known address.
B.
An appeal shall be taken by filing with the Chief
a written statement setting forth the grounds for the appeal.
C.
The Chief shall transmit the written statement to
the Selectmen within 10 days of its receipt, and the Selectmen shall
set a time and place for a hearing on the appeal.
D.
A hearing shall be set not later than 20 days from
the date of receipt of the appellant's written statement.
E.
Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall
be given to the appellant in the same manner as provided for the mailing
of notice of action or decision.
F.
The decision of the Selectmen on the appeal shall
be final and binding on all parties concerned.
Any person claiming to be legally exempt from
the regulations set forth in this chapter, or from the payment of
a permit fee, shall cite to the Chief of Police the statute or other
legal authority under which exemption is claimed and shall present
to the Chief proof of qualification for such exemption.
A.
Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter
shall be treated as an infraction and shall, upon conviction, be punishable
by fine in the amount of $90 as set forth in Connecticut General Statutes
§ 21-38.[1]
B.
In addition to any criminal enforcement, the Town
or any individual may pursue any available civil remedies deemed appropriate
and necessary.