[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Springfield 6-12-2013 by Ord. No. 924.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch.
62, Peddling and Soliciting, adopted 3-8-1972 by Ord. No. 611, as
amended.
A.
PEDDLER/SOLICITOR
PEDDLER/SOLICITOR (NONPROFIT/EXEMPT)
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any person or any organization or company employing peddlers
or solicitors who shall engage in peddling/soliciting/canvassing as
herein defined. The words "peddler" and "solicitor" shall include
the words "vendor," "transient vendor," "street vendor," "hawker,"
"huckster" and "canvasser," and other such words carrying or conveying
the same meaning and understanding and addressing the same activities
described thereby.
Any person representing a governmental agency, charitable,
educational, religious or political organization or any association
incorporated in accordance with or subject to the provisions of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of State, Bureau of Charitable
Organizations, for the purpose of soliciting membership, money and/or
property by or on behalf of a nonprofit/exempt organization, cause,
candidate or viewpoint.
B.
In this chapter, the singular shall include the plural, and the masculine
shall include the feminine and the neuter.
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in peddling, soliciting,
canvassing or transient sales or for any organization to employ any
peddlers, solicitors or transient vendors to engage in peddling, soliciting,
canvassing or transient sales within Springfield Township without
a valid license issued by Springfield Township, unless said person
solely represents an exempt organization. All peddlers, solicitors,
canvassers, transient vendors and employees shall, when conducting
business activities in the Township, comply with the following rules
of conduct:
A.
Every person desiring to engage in peddling or soliciting in the
Township of Springfield shall first make application to the Chief
of Police for a license. If such person shall also be required to
obtain a license from any county officer, he shall, when making application
to the Township, exhibit a valid county license. Upon such application,
such person shall give:
(1)
His name and address.
(2)
His previous criminal record, if any.
(3)
The name of the person or entity for whom he works, if any.
(4)
The type of goods, wares and merchandise or information he wishes
to peddle.
(5)
The length of time for which he wishes to be licensed.
(6)
The type of vehicle he uses, if any, and the license plate number
of that vehicle.
(7)
The number of helpers he has.
B.
When a person makes application for himself and one or more helpers,
all applicable personal information specified above shall be given
for each helper, and an individual license shall be required for each
helper. No license issued under this chapter shall be transferable
from one person to another.
C.
The license and personal identification shall be carried at all times
and shall be furnished upon request by any police officer, Township
official or citizen.
D.
Peddlers/solicitors shall not enter or attempt to enter any dwelling,
house or place of business without invitation or permission of the
occupant and shall immediately leave the premises upon request.
E.
Peddlers/solicitors shall only engage in peddling/soliciting within
the Township between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays. No peddling
shall take place on Sundays and federal/state legal holidays, except
for water ice or ice cream trucks selling individual-portion products.
F.
Peddlers/solicitors shall not call out or shout to sell services
or goods, nor shall they use any loud speaker, horn, music, or other
device or vehicle that uses such devices.
G.
Peddlers/solicitors shall not occupy any fixed location by standing
in person, with or without a stand, cart, or similar fixture, upon
such fixed location or along any of the alleys, sidewalks, streets
or any other public rights-of-way in the Township.
H.
Peddlers/solicitors shall not park any vehicles upon or along any
of the streets or sidewalks of the Township for the sole purpose of
advertising, displaying or selling of merchandise.
I.
Peddling/soliciting is not permitted in Township parks.
J.
Peddlers/solicitors shall not peddle/solicit on private property
without permission of the property owner.
K.
Peddlers/solicitors shall not cut across or walk upon any front lawn,
back yard or courtyard except upon sidewalks, walkways or private
driveways, if such sidewalks, walkways or driveways are provided.
L.
It shall be unlawful for any person to peddle, solicit or conduct
transient sales or attempt to peddle, solicit or conduct transient
sales at a place of residence at any entrance other than the main
entrance of the residence.
M.
Peddlers/solicitors who are offering any food for sale or using any mobile food unit that requires a permit from the Montgomery County Health Department must provide said permit when applying for the Township permit. Such peddlers/solicitors who stay within the public rights-of-way and do not attempt to enter private property (such as the trucks used by water ice and ice cream vendors) shall not be required to obtain or display the Township license provided for in § 62-2A, B or C.
N.
Peddlers/solicitors of home improvement services who are required
to comply with any state legislation must provide proof of compliance
with said legislation when applying for a Township permit.
A.
Persons and organizations, their employees, agents and representatives
who engage in door-to-door soliciting/peddling on behalf of nonprofit/exempt
organizations and causes that are in compliance with the provisions
set forth by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of State,
Bureau of Charitable Organizations, are exempt from the requirement
to obtain a permit and to pay any fee to solicit.
B.
All persons, organizations, their employees, agents and representatives
who engage in door-to-door soliciting/peddling on behalf of nonprofit/exempt
organizations and causes are required to provide proof of their nonprofit/exempt
registration if requested by the Township.
C.
All persons, organizations, their employees, agents and representatives who engage in door-to-door soliciting/peddling on behalf of nonprofit/exempt organizations and causes are required to adhere to all other provisions of this chapter, including but not limited to §§ 62-2D, E, H, J, K and L, 62-7 and 62-8.
No license shall be issued pursuant to this chapter until the
proper license fee has been paid to the office of the Chief of Police.
The license fee shall be established, and may be amended from time
to time, by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.
The Chief of Police shall keep a record of all licenses issued
under this chapter and shall supervise the activities of all holders
of such licenses.
The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to suspend any license
issued under this chapter when he deems such suspension to be beneficial
to the public health, safety or morals, or for violation of any of
the provisions of this chapter, or for giving false information upon
any application for a license hereunder.
Any and all peddlers/solicitors (including those representing
nonprofit and exempt organizations) are prohibited from entering upon
any property that is posted with a "No Peddling"" and/or "No Soliciting"
sign and may be prosecuted for trespassing. Signage to be used for
such posting shall be available at the Township at the time of registering
the property as a "no soliciting" property.
The owner or lawful occupant of any premises within the Township desiring to have persons not enter onto his or her premises shall register with the Springfield Township Police Department to have his or her address placed on a registry and shall post their property with "No Peddling" or "No Soliciting" signage as provided for in § 62-7 above. Copies of the registry shall be distributed to peddlers who obtain valid peddling permits from the Springfield Township Police Department. Peddlers are prohibited from entering onto premises listed in the registry established pursuant to this provision. Peddlers who enter onto premises listed in the registry are deemed to be in violation of this provision and shall be subject to the penalties provided in § 62-9. Peddlers have an affirmative obligation to obtain a copy of the registry from the Township and conform to it.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter
shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not
more than $600 and costs of prosecution.
