It is the purpose of this chapter to amend the existing ordinances
of the Village of Amityville pertaining to the unsolicited distribution
of handbills, newspapers and advertising material on public and private
property. The Board of Trustees finds that the constitutionally protected
freedoms of speech and the press guarantee the right to distribute
printed material to the public at large with the greatest latitude.
At the same time, said Board finds that the right of Village residents
to privacy and safety in their homes, as well as the general health,
safety and welfare, require that reasonable restrictions be placed
upon the distribution of such material.
Applicants for permit under this chapter must file an application
with the Village Clerk containing the following information:
A. Name,
address and age of applicant.
B. A
brief description of the type of printed material to be distributed.
C. A
statement as to whether the applicant has ever been convicted of any
felony, misdemeanor or offense involving a municipal local law or
ordinance, the nature of the crime or offense and the penalty assessed
therefor.
D. Two
photographs of the applicant taken not more than 60 days prior to
the date of filing of the application, which picture shall not be
larger than 1 1/2 inches, and shall show the head and shoulders
of the applicant.
E. The
name and address of the employer of the applicant, if any.
F. Any
applicant under the age of 18 shall submit the appropriate permit
or working papers from the State of New York Education Department.
Every permittee shall have his permit in his immediate possession
at all times when distributing printed material and shall display
same upon the demand of any person. No permit may be transferred from
one person to another person.
A permit for the unsolicited distribution of printed material
on private property shall be issued as of the first day of April in
each year and shall be valid through the last day of March next succeeding
unless previously suspended or revoked.
An annual fee in an amount to be established by the Board of
Trustees by duly adopted resolution shall be paid for a permit for
the unsolicited distribution of printed material on private property.
The following restrictions shall apply to all unsolicited distribution
of printed material on private property:
A. Material
to be distributed cannot be thrown or left on the ground or left in
trees, shrubs or plants or placed on vehicles.
B. Material
shall be placed in a receptacle provided by the distributor, owner
or occupant, or, if no such receptacle is available, it may be placed
in bags and hung on doorknobs or placed under doormats or otherwise
restrained from dispersal by wind. Material distributed shall contain
the name, address and telephone number of the distributor.
C. Material
shall not be left at any premises where the owner or occupant has
specifically requested that delivery not be made.
D. There
will be no distribution of material before 9:00 a.m. or after 1/2
hour before sunset or 7:00 p.m., whichever is earlier.
E. There
will be no distribution of material at any premises posted with a
sign prohibiting such distribution.
F. Such
other reasonable restrictions as the Board of Trustees may, by resolution,
from time to time, impose. Such additional restrictions, if any, shall
be set forth in full in the permit application.
Any person may distribute printed material on property owned
or controlled by the Village subject to the following restrictions:
A. No person shall distribute such material in a manner so as to create
a traffic hazard to vehicles or pedestrians in the public streets
or parking fields or to pedestrians on sidewalks.
B. No persons shall distribute such material by throwing or leaving
same on any street, sidewalk or other public place or any vehicle,
tree, shrub or plant thereon.
C. No person shall distribute any printed material inside any building
owned or controlled by the Village.