[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee
of the Township of Harding 12-12-1967 by Ord. No. 3-67; amended in its entirety 9-10-1984 by Ord. No.
7-84 (Ch. 51 of the 1990 Code). Amendments noted
where applicable.]
No person shall canvass, solicit or distribute
circulars or other printed matter nor call from house to house in
the Township without first having reported to and received a written
permit therefor signed by the Mayor or his authorized representative.
A copy of said permit must be carried by each such person in the course
of his or her business and must be presented at the request of any
citizen or member of the Police Department.
[Amended 9-21-2011 by Ord. No. 10-11]
The Township Clerk shall have the authority
to grant permits to canvass, which shall specify the number of hours
or days the permit will be in effect.
[Amended 3-12-1990 by Ord. No. 1-90]
Before the permit may be issued, each canvasser shall make a written and signed application to canvass, submitting it to the Township Clerk at least two weeks before canvassing is to commence and giving his or her full name and address, social security number, age, height, weight, place of birth, whether married or single, length and place of residence, whether or not previously arrested or convicted of a crime, by whom employed, address of employer, description of the project for which he or she is canvassing, period of time for which permit is applied and make, model, year, color and license plate number of any automobile to be used by the applicant. No canvassing permit shall be issued until the payment of a fee as provided in Chapter 171, Fees, except that no fee shall be charged when the canvassing is on behalf of an eleemosynary or nonprofit organization.
[Amended 9-21-2011 by Ord. No. 10-11]
The Township Clerk shall refuse to issue a permit
in cases where the application of the canvasser, on further investigation
of the applicant’s business or his or her criminal background
check, reveals that the applicant has been convicted of a violation
of an ordinance from any New Jersey municipality, disorderly persons'
offense or crime involving violence, sexual abuse, fraud or other
dishonesty.
A.
No person shall canvass within the Township, except
between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
B.
The permittee shall exhibit his or her permit to any
police officer or other person upon request.
C.
The permittee shall be courteous to all persons in
canvassing and shall not importune or annoy any of the inhabitants
of the Township. No person shall enter or attempt to enter onto the
property or house of any inhabitant of the Township if such inhabitant
has posted a sign upon or near the main door to the house or the entrance
to the property containing the words "No Solicitors" or words of like
meaning.
D.
Upon granting of the permit, the permittee shall deposit a sum as provided in Chapter 171, Fees, for the loan of a badge or button to be worn at all times while canvassing. On the expiration of the permit and upon the return of the button or badge, the deposit shall be returned. The Township Clerk shall be in charge of the badges or buttons, and he shall issue the same upon the exhibition of a written permit issued by the Mayor or his authorized representative.
[Amended 3-12-1990 by Ord. No. 1-90]
The requirements of this chapter shall not apply
to:
[Amended 9-21-2011 by Ord. No. 10-11]
A.
Any permit
granted under the provisions of this chapter may be suspended or revoked
by the Mayor or his authorized representative upon satisfactory cause
shown. Reasons for such suspension or revocation shall include:
B.
After revocation
or during suspension, such permit shall be invalid. The permittee
may file an appeal of the revocation or suspension of the permit with
the Township Clerk not more than five days after the suspension or
revocation of the license. Unless the permittee consents to a longer
period, the Township Committee shall hear and determine any appeal
not more than 25 days following the date the appeal is filed.