[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Hatfield 11-22-1999 by Ord. No. 457 (Ch. 10, Part 3, of the 1994 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Solid waste — See Ch. 238.
The Board of Commissioners of the Township finds and declares that the throwing, depositing and/or placing of unsolicited newspapers, advertising circulars and similar materials on streets, alleys, sidewalks, lawns, driveways, and other public and private areas in the Township is a public nuisance and detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Township. In light of the foregoing, this chapter is enacted to achieve the following purposes:
A. 
To regulate the throwing, depositing or posting of newspapers, advertising circulars, handbills, posters and/or other printed material on public property which results in unsightly and unhealthful accumulations of trash and litter that must be removed at public expense.
B. 
To regulate the depositing of unsolicited newspapers, advertising circulars, handbills, posters and/or other printed material on private property, accumulations of which are an indication that a building or property is unoccupied, thereby increasing the possibility of burglary or vandalism.
C. 
To preserve the constitutional right to disseminate and receive information by providing for alternative means of distribution.
The following acts are hereby declared unlawful and are prohibited:
A. 
To throw, drop, place, post, deposit or cause to be thrown, dropped, placed, posted or deposited upon any of the streets, alleys, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, parking lots or other public places within the Township, and any structure therein, any newspaper, circular, poster, handbill or other printed material without first obtaining permission from the Township.
B. 
To throw, drop, place, deposit or cause to be thrown, dropped, placed or deposited upon any yard, driveway, porch, stoop, private walkway or any other private place within the Township any newspaper, circular, poster, handbill or other printed material unless the same has been solicited by or permission is first obtained from an owner or occupant of the premises, or the printed material is contained within an envelope and securely placed on a porch or stoop so that it will not be carried from the porch or stoop by the elements.
Any person who shall violate the terms of § 66-2A or B shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine not in excess of $600 and costs and, in default of payment thereof, shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than 30 days in the county jail. Each individual piece or package of printed material placed on public or private property in violation of this chapter shall be a separate violation.