[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Collins 6-15-1987 by L.L. No.
1-1987 (Ch. 17 of the 1987 Code). Amendments noted
where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Peddlers
and Solicitors Law of the Town of Collins, New York."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Includes a building or store in which or where the person
transacts business and deals in the goods, wares and merchandise he
or she hawks, peddles or solicits for during regular business hours
on a daily basis.
Includes, except as hereinafter expressly provided, any person,
either principal or agent, who from any public street or public place
or by going from house to house or place of business to place of business,
on foot or on or from any vehicle, sells or barters, offers for sale
or barters, or carries or exposes for sale or barter any goods, wares
or merchandise, books, magazines, periodicals or any other item or
items of value, except milk, newspapers and food distributed on regular
customer routes.
Includes any person who goes from place to place or house
to house or by telephone or stands in any street or public place taking
or offering to take orders for goods, wares or merchandise, books,
magazines, periodicals or any other item or items of value (except
newspapers, dairy products, or milk), or for services to be performed
in the future, or for making, manufacturing, or repairing any article
or thing whatsoever for future delivery. The term "solicitor" shall,
however, also mean and include any person taking or offering to take
orders for goods, wares or merchandise, books, magazines, periodicals
or any other item or items of value (except newspapers, dairy products
or milk), or for services to be performed in the future or for making,
manufacturing, or repairing any article or thing whatsoever for future
delivery at the home or residence of any person who has been solicited
prior thereto by telephone, or has responded to any type of advertising
media requiring an appointment or consultation or sales presentation
in the home or place of residence of such person.
A.
Generally. Nothing in this chapter shall be held to apply to any
sales:
B.
Exempt organizations. Nonprofit organizations and persons working
for such organizations shall also be exempt. However, such organizations
shall register annually with the Town Clerk in the event they plan
to engage in vending, hawking, peddling or soliciting, and shall indicate
the type of activities to be undertaken and the time when they will
be performed. It shall be the responsibility of such organizations
to furnish identification for their representatives which must be
exhibited upon demand. Failure to register forfeits the right of that
organization to solicit.
C.
Interstate commerce. This chapter also shall not apply so as unlawfully to interfere with interstate commerce, and to that end all persons claiming to be engaged in interstate commerce or claiming any of the exemptions hereinabove set forth shall apply to the Town Clerk for a certificate of exemption, using the form of application described in Subsection D; the applicant shall also submit to the Town Clerk satisfactory evidence that he or she is engaged in interstate commerce.
D.
Certificate of exemption.
(1)
When the applicant shall have established to the satisfaction of the Town Clerk that he or she is engaged in interstate commerce, or is entitled to one or more of the above exemptions, the Town Clerk shall issue to him or her, without charge, a certificate of exemption, stating among other things, that such person has complied with the requirements of this section and has satisfactorily established that he or she is engaged in interstate commerce or entitled to an exemption under Subsection B. Such certificate shall be carried with the person exercising it and shall be exhibited upon demand. Each such certificate shall be invalid after one year from its date of issue. The securing of any such certificate by fraud or misrepresentation by any person not in fact engaged in interstate commerce or entitled to one or more exemptions shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
(2)
For the purposes of this subsection, the identification issued by
a nonprofit organization shall be deemed to be a certificate of exemption
required by this subsection if approved by the Town Clerk.
It shall be unlawful for any person within the limits of the
Town to act as a hawker, peddler or solicitor as herein defined or
assist same without first having obtained and paid for and having
in force and effect a license therefor.
A.
Any person desiring to procure a license as herein provided shall
file with the Town Clerk a written application upon a form furnished
by the Town Clerk and shall file at the same time satisfactory proof
of good character. Such application shall give:
(1)
The number and kind of vehicle to be used by the applicant in carrying
on the business for which the license is desired.
(2)
The kind of goods, wares and merchandise he or she desires to sell
or the kind of service he or she desires to perform.
(3)
The method of distribution.
(4)
The name, address and age of the applicant.
(5)
Whether or not the applicant has been convicted of a misdemeanor
or felony, and if so, give date of conviction, nature of offense,
penalty imposed and name and address of court.
(6)
The name and address of the person, firm or corporation he or she
represents.
(7)
The length of time the applicant desires the license.
(8)
Such other information as may be required by the Town Board to substantiate
the above items.
B.
If applicable, such application shall be accompanied by a certificate
from the Director of Weights and Measures certifying that all weighing
and measuring devices to be used by the applicant have been examined
and approved.
An application for a license as a solicitor who demands, accepts
or receives payment or deposit of money in advance of final delivery
shall also be accompanied by a cash deposit or a surety company bond
or other bond in an amount set by the Town Board and secured by sufficient
collateral, said bond to be approved by the Town Attorney as to form
and surety conditioned for making a final delivery of the goods, wares,
or merchandise ordered, or services to be performed in accordance
with the terms of such order or failing therein, that the advance
payment on such order be refunded. Any person aggrieved by the action
of any licensed solicitor shall have the right by action on the bond
for the recovery of money or damages, or both. Such bond shall remain
in full force, and effect, and in case of a cash deposit, such deposit
shall be retained by the Town for a period of 90 days after the expiration
of any such license, unless sooner released by the Town Board.
A.
Town Clerk to issue or deny. Upon the filing of the application, bond and certificate as provided in the preceding section and payment of the required fee, the Town Clerk shall, upon his or her approval of such application, issue to the applicant a license as provided in § 235-4. A license may be refused if the applicant shall have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, which in the judgment of the Town Clerk renders the applicant unfit or undesirable to carry on the trade or occupation for which the license is sought. The Town Clerk may also refuse a license to any person who in his or her judgment shall be an undesirable person or incapable of properly conducting the trade or business for which a license is sought.
B.
Appeal to Town Board. Any applicant who has been refused a license
by the Town Clerk may apply to the Town Board therefor, and the same
may be granted or refused by the Town Board, except as prohibited
by Town Law § 137.
A license shall not be assignable. Any holder of any license
who permits it to be used by any other person, and any person who
uses such license granted to any other person, shall each be guilty
of a violation.
Whenever a license shall be lost or destroyed on the part of
the holder or his or her agent or employee, a duplicate in lieu thereof,
under the original application and bond, may be issued by the Town
Clerk upon the filing with him or her by the licensee of an affidavit
setting forth the circumstances of the loss, and what, if any, search
has been made for its recovery.
All licenses shall be issued and numbered in that order in which
they are issued and shall state clearly the kind of vehicle to be
used, the kind of goods, wares and merchandise to be sold or service
to be rendered, the number of his or her license, the date of issuance
and expiration of the license, fee paid and the name and address of
the licensee.
Such license shall be for such term as requested by the applicant
but shall expire not later than the first day of January next succeeding.
Every licensee, while exercising his or her license, shall carry
the license with him or her and shall exhibit the same upon demand.
The license fees for each person licensed as a hawker, peddler
or solicitor, or licensed to assist a hawker, peddler or solicitor,
shall be set from time to time by the Town Board. For the purpose
of this chapter, a person who assists a hawker, peddler or solicitor
shall be deemed to be any person who participates in delivering merchandise
or any other items sold, performs any services in or about the customer’s
premises or otherwise generally renders aid or assistance, except
participation in selling or soliciting orders.
A license issued pursuant to this chapter may be revoked after
a public hearing held by the Town Clerk after due notice to the licensee.
All constitutional safeguards shall be afforded the licensee at such
hearing.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to enter upon private property
for the purpose of peddling or soliciting before the hour of 9:00
a.m. of any day or after the hour of 9:00 p.m. of any day except upon
the invitation of the householder or occupant.
B.
It shall be unlawful for any peddler or solicitor in plying his or
her trade to ring the bell or knock upon or enter any building whereon
there is painted or otherwise affixed or displayed to public view
any sign containing any or all of the following words: "no peddlers,"
"no solicitors," "no agents," or other wording, the purpose of which
purports to prohibit peddling or soliciting on the premises.
C.
No peddler or solicitor shall peddle, vend, or sell his or her goods
or wares within 200 feet of any place occupied exclusively as a public
or private school or for school purposes, nor shall be or she permit
his or her cart, wagon or vehicle to stand on any public highway within
said distance of such school property.
D.
No peddler or solicitor shall falsely or fraudulently misrepresent
the quantity, character or quality of any article offered for sale.
No person shall by any trick or device or by any false representation
obtain or attempt to obtain admission to the house or garage of any
person or corporation in the Town.
E.
No peddler or solicitor shall blow a horn, ring a bell or use any
other noisy device to attract public attention to his or her wares,
or shout or cry out his or her wares except as otherwise permitted
in this Municipal Code.
F.
It shall be unlawful to create or maintain any booth or stand or
place any barrels, boxes, crates or other obstructions upon any street
or public place for the purpose of selling or exposing for sale any
goods, wares or merchandise.
G.
No peddler or solicitor shall represent or state or otherwise indicate
that he or she is not intending to sell or otherwise enter into a
contract with any person in the household.
H.
Entering upon private property without prior permission. Notwithstanding
any other provision in this chapter, no person shall enter upon any
private residential property in the Town of Collins for the purpose
of vending, peddling or soliciting an order for any merchandise, device,
work, services, book, periodical or printed matter whatsoever; nor
for the purpose of soliciting alms or a subscription or a contribution
to any church, charitable or public institution; nor for the purpose
of distributing any handbill, pamphlet, tract, notice, or advertising
matter; nor for the purpose of selling or distributing any ticket
or chance whatsoever without the consent of the occupant of said premises
previously given; provided, however, this shall not apply to volunteer
firemen or any organization, the principal beneficiaries of which
are minors; or churches or fraternal organizations soliciting from
their own members.
I.
Any contract or sale made in violation of Subsection D, G or H shall be null and void and of no effect as to the person solicited, and any merchandise delivered shall be forfeited and any sums paid by the person so solicited shall become immediately due and payable jointly and severally by the peddler or solicitor and his or her principal.
All orders taken by licensed solicitors who demand, accept or
receive payment or deposit of money in advance of final delivery,
shall be in writing made in duplicate, stating the terms thereof and
the amount paid in advance, and one copy shall be given to the purchaser
at the time the deposit is paid to the solicitor.
It shall be the duty of the Town Clerk to keep a record of all
applications and of all licenses granted under the provisions of this
chapter giving the number and date of each license, the fee paid and
the date of revocation of all licenses revoked.
