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Township of Jackson, PA
Butler County
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Code
New Laws (11) Index Notes (30)
[Adopted 11-21-2002 by Ord. No. 02-11]
A. 
For the purposes of this Part 5, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
CANVASS
The act of going upon property or approaching people to discuss or explain issues, which shall include religious proselytizing, exercising an individual's freedom of speech or campaigning for political votes, that does not include the request for contributions or donations or the sale of goods or products.
CANVASSER
A person who engages in canvassing.
CANVASSING
To canvass.
PEDDLE
The act of going upon property or approaching people to sell goods or products.
PEDDLER
A person who engages in peddling.
PEDDLING
To peddle.
PERSON
Any natural person, corporation, association or organization.
SOLICIT
The act of going upon property or approaching people to ask for, request or seek monetary contributions, donations or support.
SOLICITING
To solicit.
SOLICITOR
A person who engages in soliciting.
B. 
The singular shall include the plural, and the masculine shall include the feminine and neuter.
[Amended 8-8-2015 by Ord. No. 15-07]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to go upon residential property within Jackson Township to peddle and/or solicit Township residents by knocking upon residential doors or by ringing doorbells or otherwise so as to cause or attempt to cause residents to open their doors, unless the person doing the peddling and/or soliciting activity has first registered at the Municipal Building and has received a solicitation permit from the Jackson Township Municipal Office.
B. 
No solicitation permit shall be issued to a peddler or solicitor unless the following information is given by the applicant:
(1) 
Full identification, including proof thereof by voter's registration card, vehicle operator's license or some other accepted method of identification containing the applicant's photograph, residence and office address.
(2) 
The name of the organization for which the applicant is peddling and/or soliciting, together with the address of that organization.
(3) 
The length of time the peddling and/or soliciting is to be carried on.
(4) 
Any criminal record which the applicant may have.
[Amended 8-8-2015 by Ord. No. 15-07]
Peddlers and/or solicitors regulated by this Part 5 shall carry their solicitation permit, which shall be issued by the Municipal Office without charge, at all times while peddling and/or soliciting within the Township and shall show their solicitation permit to residents in order to identify themselves prior to any actual peddling and/or soliciting activities of funds.
All peddling, soliciting and/or canvassing activities shall, in the case of residential door-to-door or house-to-house calling, be restricted to the following hours:
A. 
From October 1 through April 30: between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, including Saturdays and Sundays.
B. 
From May 1 through September 30: between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, including Saturdays and Sundays.
[Amended 3-17-2005 by Ord. No. 05-02; 8-8-2015 by Ord. No. 15-07]
The Chief of Police or his designee is hereby authorized to deny, suspend or revoke any solicitation permit issued under this Part 5 for violation of any provision of this Part 5 or for giving false information upon any application for a solicitation permit hereunder. Appeals from any suspension, revocation or denial of a solicitation permit may be made to the Board of Supervisors at any time within 10 days after such suspension, revocation or denial, and a hearing shall be held within 30 days of the petition for appeal. No part of a solicitation permit fee shall be refunded to any person whose solicitation permit shall have been suspended or revoked.
[Amended 8-8-2015 by Ord. No. 15-07]
Soliciting shall be permitted at any business establishment and upon any business properties, such as shopping center parking lots, during normal business hours, as long as the solicitors receive written permission from the owner of the subject business or property and comply with the registration, solicitation permit and hour restrictions referenced in this Part 5.
A. 
Township residents may post or display "No Soliciting/Peddling/Canvassing" or similar signs, not to exceed 80 square inches in size, on the front door of their dwelling or residence. It shall be a violation of this Part 5 for any peddler, solicitor and/or canvasser to go upon any property that the owner or resident has posted a No Soliciting/Peddling/Canvassing sign.
B. 
The Municipal Office shall maintain a list of the addresses of Township residents who have notified the Municipal Office in writing that they do not wish peddlers and/or solicitors to enter upon their property. A copy of this No Soliciting/Peddling List shall be provided along with and as part of any solicitation permit issued under this Part 5. It shall be a violation of this Part 5 for a peddler and/or solicitor to go upon any property listed on the No Soliciting/Peddling List.
[Amended 8-8-2015 by Ord. No. 15-07]
C. 
Violations of this section are subject to the penalties set forth in § 13-508 hereof, in addition to any other appropriate actions in law or equity, including prosecution for criminal trespass pursuant to the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3503, as amended.
[Amended 8-8-2015 by Ord. No. 15-07]
Any individual, firm, corporation or entity who violates, causes or permits the violation of any provision of this Part 5 by peddling and/or soliciting without a solicitation permit or who violates this Part 5 shall be subject to a criminal fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 per violation, plus court costs, including reasonable attorney fees incurred by the Township, and to imprisonment to the extent permitted by law for the punishment of summary offenses. A separate offense shall arise for each day or portion thereof in which a violation is found to exist or for each section of this Part 5 found to have been violated. Enforcement of this Part 5 shall be by action brought before the Magisterial District Judge in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. In addition to any other remedy available under law, the Township may enforce this Part 5 by an action in equity. All fines and penalties collected for violation of this Part 5 shall be paid to the Township Treasurer. The initial determination of ordinance violation and the service of notice of violation are hereby delegated to the Township Manager, the Police Chief, the Building Inspector, the Code Enforcement Officer and their designees and to any other officer or agent that the Township Manager or the Board of Supervisors shall deem appropriate.