As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A person, also known as a "canvasser," whether a resident
of the Township or not, traveling either by foot, cart, motor vehicle,
or any other type of conveyance, from place to place, from house to
house or from street to street, who takes or attempts to take orders
for sale of goods, merchandise, or personal property of any nature
whatsoever for future delivery, or for services to be furnished or
performed in the future, whether or not the individual has, carries
or exposes for sale a sample of the subject of the sale and whether
or not he accepts an advance payment for the goods. Any person taking
a poll or a survey from house to house or on the streets, or distributing
advertisements or handbills, is included.
It shall be unlawful for any solicitor or canvasser to engage
in such business within the Township without first obtaining a license.
This article shall not apply to any person giving alarm of fire
or similar emergency warning, discharging a governmental duty, distributing
literature on behalf of a candidate for public office or making calls
as part of a service to which the occupant of the house subscribes.
[Amended 4-17-2019 by Ord. No. 8-2019]
In addition to the information required by Chapter 142, Mercantile Licensing, § 142-2, the application for a solicitor's license shall indicate the place where the goods or property proposed to be sold, or orders taken for the sale thereof, are manufactured or produced, where such goods or products are located at the time of application and the proposed method of delivery. The applicant shall also provide personal identification data, including height, weight, identifying marks and two photographs, approximately 2 1/2 inches square, of their face.
The annual fee for a solicitor's license shall be $100 per year.
The license year shall be from January 1 to December 31.
No soliciting or canvassing activity shall be conducted before
9:00 a.m. or after sundown. No licensee shall solicit at any residence
or other building when barred by the householder by a sign with words
to the effect that solicitors are not invited or are prohibited.
Any duly incorporated organized society, civic club or fraternal
organization sponsoring any social or amusement affair to raise funds
strictly for charitable purposes shall be exempt from the payment
of any license fee by the Township; however, a permit shall be secured
from the Township. The application shall set forth the specific purpose
for which the proceeds of the affair shall be devoted and shall set
forth the place and date where the social or amusement affair shall
be held.
Violation of any provision of this article shall, upon conviction
thereof, be punished by a minimum fine of $100 or a maximum of $2,000
or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days or by a period
of community service not exceeding 90 days. Each and every violation
shall be considered a separate violation. Any person who is convicted
of violating the provisions of this article within one year of the
date of a previous violation and who was fined for the previous violation
may be sentenced by the court to an additional fine as a repeat offender.
The additional fine imposed as a repeat offender shall not be less
than the minimum or exceed the maximum fine provided herein, and same
shall be calculated separately from the fine imposed for the violation
of this article.
