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Town of Jerusalem, NY
Yates County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
Zoning Map New Laws (1) Index Notes (9)
Public Documents
Minutes (85)
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Jerusalem 2-14-1996 by L.L. No. 2-1996. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Town of Jerusalem Peddlers, Solicitors and Transient Merchants Law."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
HAWKER and PEDDLER
Include, 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 barter 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.
SOLICITOR
Includes any person who goes from place to place or house to house or by telephone or standing in any street or public place takes or offers to take orders for goods, wares or merchandise, books, magazines, periodicals, telephone magazine subscriptions, etc. or any other item or items of value, except newspapers, dairy products 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.
TRANSIENT MERCHANT
A merchant who sells merchandise from private property within the town for temporary periods only and does not conduct business in buildings or structures which are assessed on the town tax rolls.
A. 
Generally. Nothing in this chapter shall be held to apply to any sales:
(1) 
Conducted pursuant to statute or by order of any court.
(2) 
By any person selling personal property at wholesale to dealers in such articles.
(3) 
By persons under the age of 18 years representing local nonprofit organizations.
(4) 
Relating to peddling of meats, fish, frozen food sales, frozen fish sales, fruit, water, zebra muscle programs, mail flyers and farm produce by farmers and persons who produce such commodities and by authorized persons selling such items at farm markets.
(5) 
By persons selling personal property at sidewalk sales.
(6) 
By persons selling antiques, art and crafts at shows.
(7) 
By persons selling their own used household goods and clothing not purchased for resale at yard and lawn sales on real property where they reside.
(8) 
Conducted or authorized by nonprofit organizations having offices in Yates County, the proceeds of which shall be used for charitable or organizational purposes.
(9) 
Conducted by any person or corporation who, in the ordinary course of business, is invited by a resident of the town in person or by written or electronic communication to submit bids to deliver goods to or conduct business with the resident by whom the person or corporation was invited.
B. 
Interstate commerce. This chapter shall not apply so as to unlawfully interfere with interstate commerce, and to that end, all persons claiming to be engaged in interstate commerce shall apply to the licensing officer for a certificate of compliance using the form of application described in § 114-5. The applicant shall also submit to the licensing officer satisfactory evidence that he or she is engaged in interstate commerce.
C. 
Certificate of compliance. When the applicant shall have established to the satisfaction of the licensing officer that he or she is engaged in interstate commerce, the licensing officer shall issue to him or her, 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 or she 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 shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
It shall be unlawful for any person within the limits of the town to act as a hawker, peddler, solicitor or transient merchant, as herein defined, or assist the same without first having obtained and paid for and having in force and effect a license therefor or having in force and effect a certificate of compliance.
A. 
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. Such application shall give:
(1) 
The number and kind of vehicles to be used by the applicant in carrying on the business for which the license is desired.
(2) 
The kind of goods, wares and merchandise he or she desires to sell or the kind of service he or she desires to perform.
(3) 
The method of distribution.
(4) 
The name, address, tax identification number and age of the applicant.
(5) 
The name, address and tax identification number of the person, firm or corporation he or she represents.
(6) 
The length of time the applicant desires the license.
(7) 
Such other information as may be required by the licensing officer to substantiate the above items.
B. 
If applicable, such application shall be accompanied by a certificate from the Director of Weights and Measures of the county 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 or transient merchant who demands, accepts or receives payment or a deposit of money in advance of final delivery shall also be accompanied by a cash deposit of $10,000 or a surety company bond of $10,000 or other bond secured by sufficient collateral, said bond to be approved by the Attorney for the town 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 shall 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 180 days after the expiration of any such license, unless sooner released by the Board.
A. 
Licensing officer to issue or deny. Upon the filing of the application, bond and certificate as provided in the preceding section and payment of the required fee, the licensing officer shall, upon his or her approval of such application, issue to the applicant a license as provided for herein. A license may be refused if the applicant shall have been convicted of any violation of this chapter or any criminal conviction.
B. 
Appeal to the Town Board. Any applicant who has been refused a license by the licensing officer may apply to the Town Board thereof, and the same may be granted or refused by the Town Board.
A license shall not be assignable. Any holder of any license who permits it to be used by any other person and any other person who uses such license granted to any other person shall each be guilty of a violation.
Whenever a license shall be lost or destroyed on the part of the holder or his or her agent or employee, a duplicate in lieu thereof, under the original application and bond, may be issued by the licensing officer upon the filing with him or her 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 kinds of goods, wares and merchandise to be sold or service to be rendered, the number of his or her license, the date of issuance and expiration of the license, the fee paid and the name and address of the licensee.
Such license shall be for such term as requested by the applicant but shall not exceed one year.
Every licensee, while exercising his or her license, shall carry the license with him or her and shall exhibit the same upon demand.
The license fee for each person licensed as a hawker, peddler, solicitor or transient merchant shall be $75 per day, $125 per month or $250 per year.
A license issued pursuant to this chapter may be revoked after a public hearing held by the licensing officer after due notice to the licensee. All constitutional safeguards shall be afforded the licensee at such hearing.
A. 
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 7:00 p.m. of any day except upon invitation of the householder or occupant.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any peddler or solicitor in plying his or her 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. 
No peddler or solicitor shall peddle, vend or sell his or her goods or wares on any public highway within 200 feet of any place occupied exclusively as a public or private school or for school purposes nor shall be or she permit his or her cart, wagon or vehicle to stand on any public highway within said distance of such school property.
D. 
No peddler, solicitor or transient merchant 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. 
No peddler, solicitor or transient merchant shall blow a horn, ring a bell or use any other noisy device to attract public attention to his or her wares or shout or cry out his or her wares.
F. 
No peddler, solicitor or transient shall represent or state or otherwise indicate that he or she is not intending to sell or otherwise enter into a contract with any person in the household.
G. 
Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, no person shall enter upon any private residential property in the town for the purpose of vending, peddling or soliciting an order for any merchandise, device, work, services, book, periodicals or printed matter whatsoever nor for the purpose of soliciting alms or a subscription or a contribution to any church, charitable or public institution nor for the purpose of distributing in person any handbill, pamphlet, tract, notice or advertising material nor for the purpose of selling or distributing any ticket or chance whatsoever without the consent of the occupant of said premises previously given.
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 in duplicate, stating the terms of 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.
A violation of any provision of this chapter is hereby declared to be a violation and shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both. Each day a peddler or solicitor violates this chapter is a separate offense.