[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of West Conshohocken 7-13-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-10,[1] approved 7-13-2010. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fairs and other entertainment — See Ch. 51.
Fines and penalties — See Ch. 53A.
Mercantile tax — See Ch. 105, Art. III.
Fees — See Ch. A114.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 76, Peddling and Soliciting, adopted 6-2-1962 by Ord. No. 244, as amended.
For the purposes of this chapter, 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 of contributions or donations or the sale of goods and products.
CANVASSER
A person who engages in canvassing.
PEDDLE
The act of going upon property or approaching people to sell goods, services or products.
PEDDLER
A person who engages in peddling.
PERSON
A natural person, corporation, association or organization.
SOLICIT
The act of going upon property or approaching a person to ask for, request or seek monetary contributions, donations or support.
SOLICITOR
A person who engages in soliciting.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to go upon residential property within the Borough, without being invited to do so by the owners or occupants of the subject property, to peddle and/or solicit Borough 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 been registered with the Borough Police Department and has received an identification card from the Borough Police Department.
B. 
The following individuals shall be exempt from the registration requirement and the identification card requirement:
(1) 
Children under the age of 18 soliciting or peddling on behalf of a nonprofit, school or government organization.
(2) 
Persons soliciting on behalf of a nonprofit or neighborhood organization for either donations to, or membership in, such organization.
C. 
No identification card shall be issued to a peddler or solicitor unless the following information is given by the applicant:
(1) 
Full identification, including proof thereof by vehicle driver's license or some other accepted method of identification, containing an 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.
D. 
Fees for registration under this section shall be detailed in the Borough's fee schedule, as amended from time to time.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. A114, Fees.
E. 
Registration shall be required annually.
Peddlers and/or solicitors regulated by this chapter shall carry their identification card, which shall be issued by the Borough Police Department, at all times while peddling and/or soliciting within the Borough and shall show their identification card to residents in order to identify themselves prior to any actual peddling and/or soliciting activities.
All peddling, soliciting and/or canvassing activities shall, in the case of residential door-to-door or house-to-house calling, be restricted to daylight hours.
In the event that any peddler and/or solicitor is found to have been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, he or she may be denied an identification card or the identification card may be revoked or cancelled by the Borough Police Department for cause shown. In the event any peddler and/or solicitor provides any false or misleading information concerning his or her identification of the identity of the organization for which the peddling and/or soliciting is being done, the identification card shall be revoked.
Peddling and/or soliciting shall be permitted at any business establishment upon any business properties, during normal business hours, as long as the peddlers and/or solicitors receive written permission from the owner of the subject business or property and comply with the registration, identification card and hour restrictions detailed herein.
The Borough Police Department shall maintain a list of the addresses of Borough residents who have notified the Borough in writing that they do not wish peddlers and/or solicitors to enter upon their property. A copy of this list shall be provided along with and as a part of the identification card. It shall be a violation of this chapter for a peddler and/or solicitor to go upon any property detailed in the list.
[Amended 10-12-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-14, approved 10-12-2010]
Any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the provisions detailed in Chapter 53A of the Code of the Borough of West Conshohocken.