[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Brandon 12-14-1998 as Title 7, Ch. 4, of the 1998 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
It shall be unlawful for any transient merchant to engage in
direct sales within the Village of Brandon without being registered
for that purpose as provided herein.
In this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Includes any benevolent, philanthropic, religious, patriotic
or eleemosynary person, partnership, association or corporation, or
one purporting to be such, including, for example, Boy Scouts, Girl
Scouts, 4-H Clubs and school organizations.
The Village of Brandon Clerk or deputy/designee.
Includes personal property of any kind, and shall include
merchandise, goods, or materials provided incidental to services offered
or sold. The sale of merchandise includes donations required by the
seller for the retention of merchandise by a donor or prospective
customer.
Any person who, for at least one year prior to the consideration
of the application of this chapter to said merchant:
All humans of any age or sex, partnerships, corporations,
associations, groups, organizations and any other description of a
collection of human beings working in concert or for the same purpose
or objective.
Any individual who engages in the retail sale of merchandise
at any place in this state temporarily, and who does not intend to
become and does not become a permanent merchant of such place. The
term shall include, but not be limited to, peddlers, solicitors and
transient merchants. The sale of goods includes donations required
by the transient merchant for the retention of goods by a donor or
prospective customer. For purposes of this definition, "sale of merchandise"
includes a sale in which the personal services rendered upon or in
connection with the merchandise constitute the greatest part of value
for the price received but does not include a farm auction sale conducted
by or for a resident farmer of personal property used on the farm,
or the sale of produce or other perishable products at retail or wholesale
by a resident of this state.
A.
The following
shall be exempt from all provisions of this chapter:
(1)
Regular delivery routes. Any person delivering newspapers, fuel,
dairy products or bakery goods to regular customers on established
routes.
(2)
Wholesalers. Any person selling merchandise at wholesale to dealers
in such merchandise.
(3)
Agricultural products. Any person selling Wisconsin agricultural
products which the person has grown.
(4)
Deliveries by permanent merchants. Any permanent merchant or employee
thereof who takes orders at the home of the buyer for merchandise
regularly offered for sale by such merchant within this county and
who delivers such merchandise in his regular course of business.
(5)
Requested home visits. Any person who has an established place of
business where the merchandise being sold is offered for sale on a
regular basis, and in which the buyer has initiated contact with,
and specifically requested a home visit by, said person.
(6)
Prior sales transactions. Any person who has had, or one who represents
a company which has had, a prior business transaction, such as a prior
sale or credit arrangement, with the prospective customer.
(7)
Services not offering merchandise. Any person selling or offering
for sale a service unconnected with the sale or offering for sale
of merchandise.
(8)
Auctions; sales authorized by statute. Any person holding a sale
required by statute or by order of any court and any person conducting
a bona fide auction sale pursuant to law.
(9)
Charitable organizations; limited exemptions. Any employee, officer
or agent of a charitable organization who engages in direct sales
for or on behalf of said organization, provided that there is submitted
to the Village Clerk proof that such charitable organization is registered
under § 202.12, Wis. Stats. Any charitable organization
engaging in the sale of merchandise and not registered under § 202.12,
Wis. Stats., or which is exempt from that statute's registration
requirements, shall be required to register under this chapter.
(10)
Alleged transient merchants. Any person who claims to be a permanent
merchant, but against whom complaint has been made to the Village
Clerk that such person is a transient merchant, provided that there
is submitted to the Village Clerk proof that such person has leased
for at least one year, or purchased, the premises from which he/she
is conducting business, or proof that such person has conducted such
business in this Village for at least one year prior to the date complaint
was made.
(11)
Persons licensed by examining boards. Any individual licensed
by an examining board as defined in § 15.01(7), Wis. Stats.
(12)
Resident minors. Minors under 18 years of age who are residents
of the Brandon School District.
B.
Village-authorized
events. This chapter does not apply to transient merchants while doing
business at special events authorized by the Village Board.
A.
Registration information. Applicants for registration must complete
and return to the Village Clerk a registration form furnished by the
Clerk which shall require the following information:
(1)
Name, permanent address and telephone number, and temporary address,
if any.
(2)
Height, weight, color of hair and eyes, and date of birth.
(3)
Name, address and telephone number of the person, firm, association
or corporation that the transient merchant represents or is employed
by, or whose merchandise is being sold.
(4)
Temporary address and telephone number from which business will be
conducted, if any.
(5)
Nature of business to be conducted and a brief description of the
merchandise offered and any services offered.
(6)
Proposed method of delivery of merchandise, if applicable.
(7)
Make, model and license number of any vehicle to be used by applicant
in the conduct of his business.
(8)
Last cities, villages, and towns, not to exceed three, where applicant
conducted similar business just prior to making this registration.
(9)
Place where applicant can be contacted for at least seven days after
leaving this Village.
(10)
Statement as to whether applicant has been convicted of any
crime or ordinance violation related to applicant's transient
merchant business within the last five years, the nature of the offense
and the place of conviction.
B.
Identification and certification. Applicants shall present to the
Village Clerk for examination:
(1)
A driver's license or some other proof of identity as may be
reasonably required.
(2)
A state certificate of examination and approval from the sealer of
weights and measures where applicant's business requires use
of weighing and measuring devices approved by state authorities.
(3)
A state health officer's certificate where applicant's
business involves the handling of food or clothing and is required
to be certified under state law, such certificate to state that applicant
is apparently free from any contagious or infectious disease, dated
not more than 90 days prior to the date the application for license
is made.
C.
Registration fee.
(1)
At the time of filing application, a total fee as set by the Village
Board shall be paid to the Village Clerk to cover the cost of investigation
of the facts stated in the application and for processing said registration.
Every member of a group must file a separate registration form. The
primary applicant shall pay registration fee as set by the Village
Board plus a Crime Information Bureau (CIB) investigation fee as set
by the Village Board; each assistant under the application shall also
be required to pay the CIB fee.[1]
(2)
The applicant shall sign a statement appointing the Village Clerk
his agent to accept service of process in any civil action brought
against the applicant arising out of any sale or service performed
by the applicant in connection with the direct sales activities of
the applicant, in the event the applicant cannot, after reasonable
effort, be served personally.
D.
License; fees. Except as provided by § 418-3, no person following registration shall conduct any activity as a transient merchant without a license. Every applicant for a license shall pay a license fee. Such license shall be for a calendar year and shall expire on December 31 following its issuance; provided, however, that the fee shall be 1/2 of the amount stipulated for a calendar year if it is issued on or after July 1 of any year. License fees shall be as set by the Village Board.[2]
E.
Bond. Every applicant who is not a resident of Fond du Lac County
or who represents a firm whose principal place of business is located
outside of the state shall file with the Village Clerk a surety bond
in the amount of $500, conditioned that the applicant will comply
with all provisions of the ordinances of the Village and the state
laws regulating peddlers, canvassers, solicitors and transient merchants,
and guaranteeing to any person doing business with the licensee that
all money paid as a down payment will be accounted for and applied
according to the representations of the licensee, and further guaranteeing
that property purchased for future delivery will be delivered according
to the representations of the licensee. Action on such bond may be
brought by any person aggrieved.
A.
Upon receipt of each application, the Police Department shall make
and complete an investigation of the statements made in such registration,
said investigation to be completed within five days from the time
of referral.
B.
The Village Clerk shall refuse to register the applicant and issue a license if it is determined, pursuant to the investigation above, that the application contains any material omission or materially inaccurate statement; complaints of a material nature have been received against the applicant by authorities in the last cities, villages and towns, not exceeding three, in which the applicant conducted similar business; the applicant was convicted of a crime, statutory violation or ordinance violation within the last five years, the nature of which is directly related to the applicant's fitness to engage in direct selling; or the applicant failed to comply with any applicable provision of § 418-4B above.[1]
Any person denied registration may appeal the denial through
the appeal procedure provided by ordinance or resolution of the Village
Board or, if none has been adopted, under the provisions of §§ 68.07
through 68.16, Wis. Stats.
A.
Prohibited practices.
(1)
A transient merchant shall be prohibited from calling at any dwelling
or other place between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., except
by appointment; calling at any dwelling or other place where a sign
is displayed bearing the words "No Peddlers," "No Solicitors" or words
of similar meaning; calling at the rear door of any dwelling place;
or remaining on any premises after being asked to leave by the owner,
occupant or other person having authority over such premises.
(2)
A transient merchant shall not misrepresent or make false, deceptive
or misleading statements concerning the quality, quantity or character
of any merchandise offered for sale, the purpose of his/her visit,
his/her identity or the identity of the organization he/she represents.
A charitable organization transient merchant shall specifically disclose
what portion of the sale price of merchandise being offered will actually
be used for the charitable purpose for which the organization is soliciting.
Said portion shall be expressed as a percentage of the sale price
of the merchandise.
(3)
No transient merchant shall impede the free use of sidewalks and
streets by pedestrians and vehicles. Where sales are made from vehicles,
all traffic and parking regulations shall be observed.
(4)
No transient merchant shall make any loud noises or use any sound-amplifying
device to attract customers if the noise produced is capable of being
plainly heard outside a one-hundred-foot radius of the source.
(5)
No transient merchant shall allow rubbish or litter to accumulate
in or around the area in which he/she is conducting business.
B.
Disclosure requirements.
(1)
After the initial greeting and before any other statement is made
to a prospective customer, a transient merchant shall expressly disclose
his name, the name of the company or organization he/she is affiliated
with, if any, and the identity of merchandise or services he/she offers
to sell.
(2)
If any sale of merchandise is made by a transient merchant or any
sales order for the later delivery of merchandise is taken by the
seller, the buyer shall have the right to cancel said transaction
if it involves the extension of credit or is a cash transaction of
more than $25, in accordance with the procedure as set forth in § 423.203,
Wis. Stats. The seller shall give the buyer two copies of a typed
or printed notice of that fact. Such notice shall conform to the requirements
of § 423.203(1)(a), (b) and (c), (2) and (3), Wis. Stats.
(3)
If the transient merchant takes a sales order for the later delivery
of merchandise, he/she shall, at the time the order is taken, provide
the buyer with a written statement containing the terms of the agreement,
the amount paid in advance, whether full, partial or no advance payment
is made, the name, address and telephone number of the seller, the
delivery or performance date and whether a guarantee or warranty is
provided and, if so, the terms thereof.
A.
Registration may be revoked by the Village Board after notice and
hearing if the registrant made any material omission or materially
inaccurate statement in the application for registration; made any
fraudulent, false, deceptive or misleading statement or representation
in the course of engaging in direct sales; violated any provision
of this chapter or was convicted of any crime or ordinance or statutory
violation which is directly related to the registrant's fitness
to engage in direct selling.
A.
Permit required. There shall be a charge as set by the Village Board
for a special event vending permit. The Village Board will determine
whether the applicant qualifies for a special event vending permit.
The permit shall set forth the exact dates on which and the exact
location where such business shall be carried on and shall be valid
only during the dates and at the locations specified.[1]
B.
Exclusive vending rights during special events.
(1)
During a special event the Village Board may, by resolution and after
public hearing, suspend specifically enumerated restrictions on transient
merchants on any street, alley, sidewalk or public square and public
park. Alternative rules and procedures may be established by the Village
Board for the special event.
(2)
To encourage the integrity, comprehensiveness and success of a special
event taking place on any street, alley, sidewalk, public square or
public park, the Village Board may, by resolution and after public
hearing, reserve up to 10 days during any vending year when transient
merchant licenses will not be valid at a particular location and when
some or all categories of transient merchant licenses will not be
valid in the perimeter of the special event. During any special event,
the rules, guidelines and procedures as set forth in the resolution
approved by the Village Board shall take precedence.[2]
(3)
For each such specific day during which certain or all vending permits
have been declared to be not valid, the Village Board may, by separate
resolution and after public hearing, authorize the sponsor of a special
event to select vendors, salespersons and vending sites for the duration
of the special event within its perimeter. The event's sponsor
shall contact the Village Board at least one week before the public
hearing with an outline of the rules, regulations, fees, areas affected
and a proposed resolution for exclusive vending rights. The determinations
of the Village Board as to any specific day during which a transient
merchant license will not be valid shall be by resolution adopted
at least four weeks in advance of such specific day. Transient merchant
licenses shall be subject to invalidation for up to 10 days each vending
year for any one location as provided in this subsection.[3]
