[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Bethel as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 6-10-2008 by Ord. No. 185]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Engaging in any form of sale, solicitation or order taking
for any good or service or the solicitation of any payment or donation
of money or property or any commitment for the payment or donation
of money or property from any resident of Bethel Township at the home
or property of such resident of Bethel Township.
Includes any person who or which engages in or intends to
engage in peddling within Bethel Township.
Peddling within Bethel Township shall be prohibited unless the
transient merchant has first applied for and obtained a permit from
the Township in accordance with the provisions of this article.
A.Â
All transient merchants shall, prior to the commencement of any peddling
activity, submit an application to Bethel Township, on a form provided
by Bethel Township for a peddling permit and in connection with said
application provide the following information:
(1)Â
Full name, address and telephone number of the person to be engaged
in the peddling activity.
(2)Â
The name of any company, organization or similar entity for which
or on whose behalf the peddling activity will be conducted.
(3)Â
The nature or description of the good or service to be offered, or
the recipient of the donation of money or property sought.
(4)Â
The make, model and year of each vehicle used or intended to be used
in connection with the peddling activity. A copy of the registration
for all such vehicles shall be provided at the time of application.
(5)Â
Whether the applicant or any persons proposed to be engaged in the
peddling activity have ever been convicted of a crime other than a
violation of the Motor Vehicle Code, and if so, the date and nature
of the offense.
(6)Â
Names of other municipalities in Delaware County in which the applicant
and/or the persons to be engaged in the peddling activity have worked
as peddlers in the past two years.
(7)Â
The respective dates and times and areas of Bethel Township in which
the applicant intends to conduct the peddling activity.
B.Â
The Township shall have through its Police Department seven days for background checks and to verify the accuracy of the information provided to comply with the requirement of Subsection A of this section.
C.Â
Upon satisfactory compliance with the requirements of this article,
Bethel Township shall issue a peddling permit to the applicant in
accordance with the application.
A.Â
All applicants shall pay to Bethel Township, at the time of the application,
a permit fee as established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors,
from time to time. All permits shall be issued on an annual basis.
B.Â
All permits issued pursuant to this article shall be issued on an
annual basis and expire on December 31 of the year in which the permit
was issued. Upon the expiration of the permit, a new application shall
be filed with Bethel Township, in accordance with the provisions of
this article.
A.Â
Bethel Township's no peddling registry. Residents may register
with the Township to prohibit peddling on his or her property. Bethel
Township shall maintain a copy of the Registry at its offices and
also shall provide a copy to the applicant at the time of issuance
of the peddling permit.
B.Â
No peddler shall attempt to peddle to any resident who has posted
upon the resident's property signs such as "No Solicitation,"
"No Peddling," "No Trespassing" or such similar signs indicating a
prohibition of entry upon the resident's property.
C.Â
Any peddler entering upon a resident's property shall immediately
leave said property when asked or instructed to do so by anyone present
on the property.
No peddling activity shall occur between the hours of 6:30 p.m.
and 9:30 a.m.
The terms of this article shall not apply to the following when
a peddler is seeking donations of money or property when conducted
as part of an officially sponsored fund-raising program: Volunteer
fire and emergency medical services and members of little league and
petticoat leagues and boy scouts and girl scouts when: accompanied
by a coach or leader; and in uniform.
A.Â
Notwithstanding the issuance of a permit, no person shall engage
in any form of peddling or other activity which threatens the health,
safety or welfare of Bethel Township or its residents.
B.Â
Any permit issued pursuant to this article shall be prominently displayed
by all peddlers at all times when peddling activity is being conducted
within Bethel Township.
C.Â
Permits shall be issued on an individual basis and shall not be transferable
to any other person or entity.
D.Â
Peddling conducted following the issuance of a permit shall be strictly
limited to the terms of the permit.
Violation of this article shall constitute a summary offense
and shall result in the revocation of any issued permit or the denial
of any pending permit application. In addition, the Board of Supervisors
may prescribe a fine in the minimum amount of $350 but not to exceed
$600 per violation and may also prescribe imprisonment to the extent
allowed by law for the punishment of summary offenses.
