As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
SOLICITOR
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.