[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Goshen 9-3-1958. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 8-26-1998 by Ord. No. 13-1998]
From and after the effective date hereof, it shall be unlawful for any person, not exempted by § 60-6 hereof, who is not the holder of a valid and unexpired license issued pursuant to this chapter to engage in selling, purchasing or soliciting the sale or purchase of food, printed matter, services, goods, wares or merchandise of any description or in soliciting contributions, gifts or pledges of money or any other thing of value, by visitation to private homes or residences or on the public streets, highways and private property in West Goshen Township.
[Amended 11-6-1969 by Ord. No. 10-1969; 8-26-1998 by Ord. No. 13-1998]
Any person, not exempted by § 60-6 hereof, desiring to obtain a license to engage in the activities described in § 60-1 hereof shall make application therefor in person to the West Goshen Township Police Department (hereinafter "the Police").
A. 
The applicant shall supply, over his signature, the following information:
(1) 
His name.
(2) 
His place and date of birth.
(3) 
His temporary address and telephone number.
(4) 
His permanent residence address and permanent telephone number.
(5) 
The address at which he will receive notices under this chapter.
(6) 
The name and address of his employer or principal, if any, and the nature of the business activity thereof.
(7) 
The nature of the business or activity in which the applicant wishes to engage within the township.
(8) 
A statement as to whether the applicant has been convicted in any jurisdiction of any crime other than of minor traffic violations and, if so, of what crime or crimes.
B. 
Upon submission of the application and the payment of the fee, as determined by the Board, the Police shall review the submission. The Police are authorized to reject the application of any applicant who has previously been convicted of any felony offense or a misdemeanor involving dishonesty, deceit, fraud, theft, sexual offenses, or crimes of violence in the past 10 years. In the event that no record of such convictions is found, the Police shall authorize the issuance of a license.
[Amended 3-28-2001 by Ord. No. 5-2001; 3-5-2024 by Ord. No. 3-2024]
C. 
Licenses may be renewed annually upon payment of the fee hereinabove provided for and amendment of the original application to reflect any changes necessary in the information therein contained and after a determination by the Police that the applicant has not, in the interim period, been convicted of any felony offense or a misdemeanor involving dishonesty, deceit, fraud, theft, sexual offenses, or crimes of violence in the past 10 years.
[Amended 3-5-2024 by Ord. No. 3-2024]
D. 
The Township Police are also authorized to deny renewal of any license previously issued to the applicant if they determine that the licensee has failed to comply with the rules of conduct established by § 60-3 hereof or upon a determination that the licensee has made any material and false statement in his application for a license hereunder.
Every person to whom a license has been issued herein shall, in the carrying on of his business or activities in the township, comply with the following rules of conduct:
A. 
He shall carry his license card at all times and exhibit it upon request to any officer or any person upon whom he shall call or with whom he shall talk in carrying on his licensed activities.
[Amended 8-26-1998 by Ord. No. 13-1998]
B. 
He shall not permit any other person to have possession of his license card and shall immediately report its loss to the Police. He shall not cause or permit his license card to be altered or defaced.
[Amended 8-26-1998 by Ord. No. 13-1998]
C. 
He shall not enter or attempt to enter any dwelling house without invitation or permission of the occupant and shall immediately leave any premises upon request.
D. 
He shall not represent his license card to be an endorsement of himself or of his goods or services or of the goods or services of his principal or employer.
E. 
He shall immediately surrender his license card upon revocation of his license as hereinafter provided.
F. 
A licensee shall be permitted to conduct the activities described in § 60-1 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and dusk, Monday through Saturday.
[Added 8-26-1998 by Ord. No. 13-1998]
G. 
A licensee shall not enter any property where the owner has displayed a "No Solicitation" sign.
[Added 3-5-2024 by Ord. No. 3-2024]
H. 
A licensee shall not enter any property in a planned community where the homeowners' association of the planned community has displayed a "No Solicitation" sign.
[Added 3-5-2024 by Ord. No. 3-2024]
[Amended 8-26-1998 by Ord. No. 13-1998]
Any license issued hereunder may be immediately revoked by the Police upon the failure of the licensee to comply with the standards of conduct established by § 60-3 hereof or upon ascertainment that the licensee has made any false statement in his application for license hereunder. After the license is revoked, the Police shall send written notice to the licensee explaining the grounds for such revocation. Such notice shall be personally served or sent by registered mail to the address designated for this purpose in the license application.
A. 
Any person whose license has been revoked shall be entitled to appear, with counsel, if he so desires, before the Board of Supervisors at a regular or special meeting and be heard in behalf of a request for reinstatement of his license.
B. 
Any person who has been refused a license or the reissuance of a license by the Police may appeal such determination to the Board of Supervisors who shall determine whether there exists substantial grounds under the provisions of this chapter to sustain denial of the applicant's application for a license or reissuance of a license. In a reinstatement proceeding the burden of proof shall be upon the applicant. In a proceeding involving refusal of the Police to issue a license, the township shall have the initial burden to establish the grounds under this chapter for denial of the license, and the applicant shall then have the burden to show cause why the Police's determination should not be affirmed. These appeal proceedings shall be governed by the Pennsylvania Local Agency Law.[1]
[Added 8-26-1998 by Ord. No. 13-1998]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 2 Pa. C.S.A. § 105 et seq.
The following persons are exempted from the licensing requirements of this chapter:
A. 
Persons soliciting contributions in behalf of organizations or nonprofit corporations exempted from the provisions of, or duly registered pursuant to, the Act of May 13, 1925, P.L. 644, as amended,[1] who, while soliciting, are possessed of a card or other written evidence of their appointment or authority to solicit for said organization or corporations.
[1]
Editor's Note: For current provisions, see 10 P.S. § 162.1 et seq.
B. 
Farmers engaged in selling only the produce of their own farms from a truck or other vehicle.
C. 
Persons who have been licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to engage in an activity described in § 60-1 hereof, when so engaged, including, without limitation, real estate, insurance or securities brokers and salesmen.
D. 
Persons engaged in the sale of goods, wares and merchandise donated by the owner thereof, the proceeds whereof are to be applied to any charitable or philanthropic purpose.
E. 
Any honorably discharged and disabled soldier, sailor or marine of the military or naval service of the United States, who is a resident of this commonwealth.
[Amended 6-23-1992 by Ord. No. 9-1992; 7-24-1996 by Ord. No. 7-1996; 3-5-2024 by Ord. No. 3-2024]
Any person who violates or permits the violation of any provision of this chapter shall, upon being found liable therefor in a criminal enforcement proceeding commenced by the Township before a District Justice, pay a fine for each such violation in an amount not less than $50 and not more than $1,000, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred by the Township.