[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Clay 5-1-1978
as Ch. 17 of the 1978 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
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 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 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 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.Â
Generally. Nothing in this chapter shall be held to apply
to any sales:
(1)Â
Conducted pursuant to statute or by order of any court.
(2)Â
To any person selling personal property at wholesale
to dealers in such articles.
(3)Â
To persons under the age of 18 years.
(4)Â
To peddling of meats, fish, fruit and farm produce by
farmers and persons who produce such commodities.
(5)Â
To any honorably discharged member of the armed forces
or any other person who has procured a license issued by the County Clerk
as provided by § 32 of the General Business Law of the State of
New York.
B.Â
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.
C.Â
Interstate commerce. This chapter also shall not apply so as to unlawfully 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 compliance, using the form of application described in § 167-4. The applicant shall also submit satisfactory evidence that he is so engaged in interstate commerce as to entitle him to exemption.
D.Â
Certificate of compliance. When the applicant shall have
established to the satisfaction of the Town Clerk that he is engaged in interstate
commerce, or is entitled to one or more of the above exemptions, the Town
Clerk shall issue to him, without charge, a certificate of compliance, stating,
among other things, that such person has complied with the requirements of
this section and has satisfactorily established that he is engaged in interstate
commerce. 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.
It shall be unlawful for any person within the corporate 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.Â
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)Â
The number and kind of vehicle to be used by the applicant
in carrying on the business for which the license is desired.
(2)Â
The kind of goods, wares and merchandise he desires to
sell or the kind of service he desires to perform.
(3)Â
The method of distribution.
(4)Â
The name, address and age of the applicant.
(5)Â
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)Â
The name and address of the person, firm or corporation
he represents.
(7)Â
The length of time the applicant desires the license.
(8)Â
Such other information as may be required by the Town
Board.
B.Â
If applicable, such application shall be accompanied
by a certificate from the Sealer 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 as provided in Chapter 105, Fees, or a surety company bond or other bond secured by sufficient collateral, in the amount provided in Chapter 105, Fees, 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.Â
Town Clerk to issue or deny.
(1)Â
Upon the filing of the application, bond and certificate as provided in the preceding section, the Town Clerk shall, upon approval of such application, issue to the applicant a license as provided in § 167-3. 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 judgment shall be an undesirable person or incapable of properly conducting the trade or business for which a license is sought.
(2)Â
No license shall be issued by the Town Clerk until the
Town Clerk has a reasonable opportunity to determine the applicant's
fitness and in no event prior to the passage of two business days following
the day on which the application is received.
B.Â
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 misdemeanor.
Whenever a license shall be lost or destroyed on the part of the holder
or his 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 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 from a properly bound book with proper
reference stubs kept for that purpose, 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 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 license, shall carry the license
with him and shall exhibit the same upon demand.
The license fee for each person licensed as a hawker, peddler or solicitor shall be as provided in Chapter 105, Fees.
A license issued pursuant to this chapter may be revoked after a public
hearing as provided in Article 9 of the Town Law.
A.Â
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.Â
It shall be unlawful for any peddler or solicitor in
plying his 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.Â
No peddler or solicitor shall peddle, vend, or sell his
goods or wares within 200 feet of any place occupied exclusively as a public
or private school or for school purposes, nor shall he permit his cart, wagon
or vehicle to stand on any public highway within said distance of such school
property.
D.Â
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.Â
No peddler or solicitor shall blow a horn, ring a bell
or use any other noisy device to attract public attention to his wares, or
shout or cry out his wares.
F.Â
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.Â
No peddler or solicitor shall represent or state or otherwise
indicate that he is not intending to sell or otherwise enter into a contract
with any person in the household.
H.Â
No peddler or solicitor shall, in order to effectuate
or assist in any sale or solicitation, represent that he is engaged in any
contest or in any way attempt to induce a sale or solicitation by appealing
to the sympathies of the person so solicited.
I.Â
Any contract or sale made in violation of Subsections 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 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.