[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of South Whitehall 12-3-1972 by Ord. No. 154. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Conduct — See Ch. 148.
Junk dealers and scrap yards — See Ch. 204.
Loitering — See Ch. 221.
Zoning — See Ch. 350.
[Amended 12-22-1977 by Ord. No. 267]
A. 
For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ADULT MATERIAL
Stock and trade books, magazines and other periodicals, photographs, motion picture films, slides or videotape, disc or similar items for the reproduction of images, which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis on matter depicting or describing or relating to "specified sexual activities" as defined in Chapter 350, Zoning, of the Township of South Whitehall or "specified anatomical areas" as defined in Chapter 350, Zoning, of the Township of South Whitehall.
PEDDLER
Any person who shall engage in peddling as hereinabove defined.
PEDDLING
Engaging in peddling, canvassing, soliciting or taking orders, either by sample or otherwise for any goods, wares, merchandise or services to be furnished or performed now, or in the future, upon any street in the Township of South Whitehall, or from door-to-door going in and upon private residences and residential properties within the Township.
PERSON
Any person, association, partnership, firm or corporation.
STREET
Any street, road, highway or alley within the lines of or alongside of the same.
B. 
In this chapter, the singular shall include the plural, the plural shall include the singular and the masculine shall include the feminine and the neuter.
A. 
Except as hereinafter described as it applies to religious proselytizing, anonymous political speech and the distribution of handbills, it shall be unlawful for any peddler to engage in business within the Township of South Whitehall without first obtaining a license therefor, in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(1) 
Exceptions. No license fee shall be charged:
(a) 
To farmers selling their own produce.
(b) 
For the sale of goods, wares and merchandise donated by the owners thereof, the proceeds whereof are to be applied to any charitable or philanthropic purpose.
(c) 
To any manufacturer or producer in the sale of bread and bakery products, meat and meat products or milk and milk products.
(d) 
To children under the age of 18 years who take orders for and deliver newspapers, greeting cards, candy, bakery products and the like, or who represent the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts or similar organizations.
(e) 
To the seeking or taking of orders by insurance agents or brokers licensed under the insurance laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(f) 
To a person who has complied with the provisions of the Solicitation of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act, 10 P.S. § 162.1 et seq., as hereafter amended, supplemented, modified or reenacted by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania.
(g) 
For taking orders for merchandise, by sample, from dealers or merchants for individuals or companies who pay a license or business privilege tax at their chief place of business.
B. 
But all persons exempted hereby from the payment of the license fee shall be required to register with the Chief of Police and obtain a license without fee; provided, any person dealing in one or more of the above mentioned exempted categories, and dealing with other goods, wares or merchandise not so exempted, shall be subject to the payment of the license fee fixed by this section for his activities in connection with the sale of goods, wares and merchandise not in such exempted categories. Provided, further, the Chief of Police may similarly exempt from payment of the license fee, but not from registering with him, persons working without compensation and selling goods, wares or merchandise for the sole benefit of a nonprofit corporation. Provided, further, every license issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be issued on an individual basis to any person or persons engaging in such business; every individual shall obtain a separate license, issued to him in his name, and the license fee hereby imposed shall be applicable to every such individual license, except that a representative of a charitable organization may obtain licenses for the applicants.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
Applicants for a license under this chapter must file with the Chief of Police an application, in writing on a form to be furnished by said officer, which shall give the following information:
(1) 
Name and description of the applicant.
(2) 
Permanent home address and full local address of the applicant.
(3) 
Motor vehicle registration, if any, and Social Security number.
(4) 
A brief description of the nature of the business and the goods or services to be sold or furnished.
(5) 
If employed, the name and address of the employer, together with credentials establishing the exact relationship.
(6) 
The length of time for which the right to do business is desired.
(7) 
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 said application is filed and the proposed method of delivery.
(8) 
A statement as to whether or not the applicant has been convicted of any crime, misdemeanor, or violation of any municipal ordinance, the nature of the offense and the punishment or penalty assessed therefor.
(9) 
A statement as to whether the customer is to receive a signed receipt if a down payment is made.
B. 
At the time of filing the application, the applicant shall submit copies of the receipt, contract and other forms that attend the sales transaction. The applicant shall also submit one self photo not larger than 1 1/4 inch by 1 1/4 inch.
A. 
Upon receipt of such application, the Chief of Police shall cause such investigation of the applicant's business and moral character to be made as he deems necessary for the protection of the public good.
B. 
If as a result of such investigation, the applicant's character or business responsibility is found to be unsatisfactory, the Chief of Police shall endorse on such application his disapproval and his reason for the same.
C. 
If as a result of such investigation, the character and business responsibility of the applicant are found to be satisfactory, the Chief of Police shall endorse on such application his approval and forward the application to the permit clerk who shall execute a license addressed to the applicant for the carrying on of the business applied for. Such license shall contain the signature of the issuing officer and shall how the name, address and photograph of said licensee, the date of issuance and the length of time the same shall be operative, as well as the license number and other identifying description of any vehicle used in such peddling. The Permit Clerk shall keep a permanent record of all licenses issued.
D. 
Within not more than 10 days following the filing of the application, the applicant shall be notified that his application has been approved or disapproved, and if disapproved, the reasons therefor.
E. 
No license issued under this chapter shall be transferable from one individual to another individual.
A. 
The license fee which shall be charged shall be an amount established from time to time by resolution of the Township Board of Commissioners.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
No fee shall be charged for a license for noncommercial dissemination or economic, political, cultural or religious information, but anyone engaged in the dissemination of such information shall secure a license as aforesaid.
C. 
No fee shall be charged of any member of a chartered nonprofit charitable service or youth organization, but any such member engaged in peddling as defined herein shall secure a license as aforesaid.
D. 
A business privilege license or tax shall be required.
Every peddler shall, at all times while engaged in peddling within the Township of South Whitehall, carry such license upon his person and shall exhibit such license, upon request, to any person within said Township. No person shall engage in selling any goods, wares or merchandise other than that mentioned upon such license, nor shall any person engage in peddling within the Township of South Whitehall unless he holds a valid and unexpired license issued to him in his name.
No peddling from door to door shall be permitted within the Township of South Whitehall during the period from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
The Chief of Police shall maintain a record of all convictions for violations of this chapter for each license issued.
[Amended 12-22-1977 by Ord. No. 267]
No peddler shall occupy any fixed location upon any of the streets or public places in the Township of South Whitehall for the purpose of peddling or shall engage in peddling any adult material as defined herein.
The Chief of Police shall have the authority to revoke any license issued under this chapter for any of the following reasons:
A. 
Fraud, misrepresentation or false statement contained in the application for a license.
B. 
Fraud, misrepresentation or false statement made in the course of carrying on his business as a peddler.
C. 
Any violation of this chapter.
D. 
Conviction of any crime or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.
E. 
Conducting the business of peddling in an unlawful manner or in such a manner as to constitute a breach of the peace or to constitute a menace to the health, safety or general welfare of the public.
Any person aggrieved by the action of the Chief of Police in the denial or revocation of a license as provided by this chapter shall have the right of appeal to the Board of Commissioners of the Township of South Whitehall. Such appeal shall be taken by filing with the Township Manager, 14 days after notice of the action complained of has been mailed to such person's last known address, a written statement setting forth fully the grounds for the appeal. The Board of Commissioners shall set a time and place for a hearing on such appeal and so notify the appellant. The decision and order of the Board of Commissioners shall be final.
All annual licenses issued under the provisions of this chapter shall expire on December 31 in the year issued.
[Amended 2-7-1989 by Ord. No. 449[1]]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine not to exceed $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).