[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Fredonia as Title 7, Ch. 4, of the 1995 Code. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
It shall be unlawful for any transient merchant, direct seller
or charitable solicitor to engage in direct sales or solicitation
activities within the Village of Fredonia without being registered
for that purpose as provided herein.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
- CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION
- Any benevolent, philanthropic, patriotic or eleemosynary person, partnership, association or corporation, or one purporting to be such.
- CLERK-TREASURER
- The Village of Fredonia Clerk-Treasurer or Deputy Clerk-Treasurer.
- MERCHANDISE
- 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.
- PERMANENT MERCHANT
- Any person who, for at least one year prior to the consideration of the application of this chapter to said merchant:
- PERSON
- 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.
- SOLICITOR
- Any person engaged in direct solicitation who:
- TRANSIENT MERCHANT
- Any individual who engages in the retail sale of merchandise at any place in this state temporarily, and who does not intend to become a permanent merchant of such place. For purposes of this section, sale of merchandise includes a sale in which the personal services rendered upon or in connection with the merchandise constitutes the greatest part of value for the price received. For purposes of this chapter, the term "transient merchant" shall include direct sellers and solicitors seeking donations or funds for an organization, unless excepted.
The following shall be exempt from all provisions of this chapter:
A.
Regular delivery routes. Any person delivering newspapers, fuel,
dairy products or bakery goods to regular customers on established
routes;
B.
Wholesalers. Any person selling merchandise at wholesale to dealers
in such merchandise;
C.
Agricultural products. Any person selling agricultural products which
the person has grown;
D.
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;
E.
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;
F.
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;
G.
Services not offering merchandise. Any person selling or offering
for sale a service unconnected with the sale or offering for sale
of merchandise;
H.
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;
I.
Charitable organizations; limited exemption. Any employee, officer
or agent of a charitable organization who engages in direct sales
for or on behalf of said organization shall be exempt from fees imposed
by this chapter, provided that there is submitted to the Clerk-Treasurer
proof that such charitable organization is registered under § 202.11,
Wis. Stats., and the charitable solicitors register with the Village
under this chapter. Any charitable organization engaging in the sale
of merchandise and not registered under § 202.11, Wis. Stats.,
or which is exempt from that statute's registration requirements,
shall be required to register under this chapter.
J.
Alleged transient merchants. Any person who claims to be a permanent
merchant, but against whom complaint has been made to the Clerk-Treasurer
that such person is a transient merchant, provided that there is submitted
to the Clerk-Treasurer 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.
K.
Persons licensed by examining boards. Any individual licensed by
an examining board as defined in § 15.01(7), Wis. Stats.
L.
Village-authorized events. This chapter does not apply to transient
merchants while doing business at special events authorized by the
Village Board.
M.
Resident minor. Minors under the age of 18 who are residents of the
Northern Ozaukee School District.
A.
Registration information. Applicants for registration must complete
and return to the Clerk-Treasurer a registration form furnished by
the Clerk-Treasurer, 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, 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
Clerk-Treasurer for examinations:
(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 weighting 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 registration is made.
C.
Registration fee.
(1)
At the time of filing applications, a fee in accordance with the
Village's current Schedule of Fees[1] shall be paid to the Clerk-Treasurer to cover the cost
of investigation of the facts stated in the applications and for processing
said registration. Every member of a group must file a separate registration
form. The primary applicant shall pay a registration fee plus a CIB
investigation fee; each assistant under the application shall also
be required to pay the CIB fee, which is in accordance with the Schedule
of Fees.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Schedule of Fees is on file in the Village
office.
(2)
The applicant shall sign a statement appointing the Clerk-Treasurer
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. Registration may be denied upon failure
to comply with this subsection.
D.
Solicitors. Solicitors of funds or donations for charitable or other
organizations shall comply with all disclosure and registration requirements
above but shall be exempt from the registration fee; such applicants,
however, shall each pay the CIB fee.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
A.
Upon receipt of each application, the Clerk-Treasurer may refer it
immediately to the Village Marshal for an investigation of the statements
made in such registration, said investigation to be completed within
five business days from the time of referral. (NOTE: This waiting
period is necessary in order to complete the investigation process.)
B.
The Clerk-Treasurer shall refuse to register the applicant 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 § 514-4B above.
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 on Sundays or holidays or between the hours of 9:00
p.m. and 9:00 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 premise 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 characteristics
of any merchandise offered for sale, the purpose of his visit, his
identity or the identity of the organization he 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.[1]
(4)
No transient merchant shall allow rubbish or litter to accumulate
in or around the area in which he 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 is affiliated
with, if any, and the identity of merchandise or services he 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 involved 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 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.
The Village Marshal shall report to the Clerk-Treasurer all
convictions for violations of this chapter and the Clerk-Treasurer
shall note any such violation on the record of the registrant convicted.
A.
Registration may be revoked by a Village law enforcement officer
or Clerk-Treasurer 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.
B.
Provided that a written request is filed with the Clerk-Treasurer within 10 days of such revocation, an appeals hearing shall be held before the Village Board or committee thereof. Written notice of the hearing shall be served personally or pursuant to § 514-4C on the registrant at least 72 hours prior to the time set for the hearing; such notice contain the time and place of hearing and a statement of the acts upon which the hearing will be based.
