[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Walworth 11-16-1978 by L.L. No. 6-1978. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Junk dealers — See Ch. 99.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
- ESTABLISHED PLACE OF BUSINESS
- Includes a building or store in which or where the person transacts business and deals in the goods, wares and merchandise he/she hawks, peddles or solicits for during regular business hours on a daily basis.
- HAWKER and PEDDLER
- Include, except as hereinafter expressly provided, any person, either principal or agent, who, from any public street or public place or by going from house to house or place of business to place of business, on foot or on or from any vehicle, sells or barters, offers for sale or barters or carries or exposes for sale or barter any goods, wares or merchandise, books, magazines, periodicals or any other item or items of value, except milk, newspapers and food distributed on regular customer routes.
- SOLICITOR
- Includes any person who goes from place to place or house to house or by telephone or stands in any street or public place taking or offering to take orders for goods, wares or merchandise, books, magazines, periodicals or any other item or items of value (except newspapers or milk) or for services to be performed in the future or for making, manufacturing or repairing any article or thing whatsoever for future delivery. The term "solicitor" shall, however, also mean and include any person taking or offering to take orders for goods, wares or merchandise, books, magazines, periodicals or any other item or items of value (except newspapers or milk) or for services to be performed in the future or for making, manufacturing or repairing any article or thing whatsoever for future delivery at the home or residence of any person who has been solicited prior thereto by telephone or has responded to any type of advertising media requiring an appointment or consultation or sales presentation in the home or place of residence of such person.
A.
Generally. Nothing in this chapter shall be held to
apply to:
(1)
Any sales conducted pursuant to statute or by order
of any court.
(2)
Any person selling personal property at wholesale
to dealers in such articles.
(3)
Persons under the age of 18 years.
(4)
Peddling of meats, fish, fruit and farm produce by
farmers and persons who produce such commodities.
(5)
Any honorably discharged member of the armed forces
or any other person who has procured a license issued by the County
Clerk as provided by § 32 of the General Business Law of
the State of New York.
B.
Exempt organizations. Nonprofit organizations and
persons working for such organizations shall also be exempt. However,
such organizations shall register annually with the Town Clerk in
the event that they plan to engage in vending, hawking, peddling or
soliciting and shall indicate the type of activities to be undertaken
and the time when they will be performed. It shall be the responsibility
of such organizations to furnish identification for their representatives
which must be exhibited upon demand.
C.
Interstate commerce. This chapter also shall not apply
so as to interfere unlawfully with interstate commerce, and, to that
end, all persons claiming to be engaged in interstate commerce shall
register with the Town Clerk and shall submit satisfactory evidence
to the Town Clerk that such person is engaged in interstate commerce.
It shall be unlawful for any person within the
limits of the Town to act as a hawker, peddler or solicitor, as herein
defined, or assist the same without first having obtained and paid
for and having in force and effect a license therefor.
A.
Any person desiring to procure a license as herein
provided shall file with the Town Clerk a written application upon
a form furnished by the Town Clerk and shall file at the same time
satisfactory proof of good character. Such application shall give:
(1)
The number and kinds of vehicles to be used by the
applicant in carrying on the business for which the license is desired.
(2)
The kinds of goods, wares and merchandise he/she desires
to sell or the kind of service he/she desires to perform.
(3)
The method of distribution.
(4)
The name, address and age of the applicant.
(5)
Whether or not the applicant has been convicted of
a misdemeanor or felony and, if so, give date of conviction, nature
of offense, penalty imposed and name and address of court.
(6)
The name and address of the person, firm or corporation
he/she represents.
(7)
The length of time the applicant desires the license.
(8)
Such other information as may be required by the Town
Board.
B.
If applicable, such application shall be accompanied
by a certificate from the Sealer of Weights and Measures certifying
that all weighing and measuring devices to be used by the applicant
have been examined and approved.
[Amended 9-1-1994 by L.L. No. 1-1994]
An application for a license as a solicitor
who demands, accepts or receives payment or deposit of money in advance
of final delivery shall also be accompanied by a cash deposit of $5,000
or a surety company bond of $5,000 or other bond secured by sufficient
collateral, said bond to be approved by the Town Attorney as to form
and surety conditioned for making a final delivery of the goods, wares
or merchandise ordered or services to be performed in accordance with
the terms of such order or, failing therein, that the advance payment
on such order be refunded. Any person aggrieved by the action of any
licensed solicitor shall have the right by action on the bond for
the recovery of money or damages, or both. Such bond shall remain
in full force and effect, and, in case of a cash deposit, such deposit
shall be retained by the Town for a period of 90 days after the expiration
of any such license, unless sooner released by the Town Board.
A.
Town Clerk to issue or deny. Upon the filing of the application, bond and certificate as provided in the preceding section, the Town Clerk shall, upon approval of such application, issue to the applicant a license as provided in § 121-3. A license may be refused if the applicant shall have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, which, in the judgment of the Town Clerk, renders the applicant unfit or undesirable to carry on the trade or occupation for which the license is sought. The Town Clerk may also refuse a license to any person who, in his or her judgment, shall be an undesirable person or incapable of properly conducting the trade or business for which a license is sought.
B.
Appeal to Town Board. Any applicant who has been refused
a license by the Town Clerk may apply to the Town Board therefor,
and the same may be granted or refused by the Town Board, except as
prohibited by Town Law § 137.
A license shall not be assignable. Any holder
of any license who permits it to be used by any other person, and
any person who uses such license granted to any other person, shall
each be guilty of a violation.
Whenever a license shall be lost or destroyed
on the part of the holder or his or her agent or employee, a duplicate
in lieu thereof, under the original application and bond, may be issued
by the Town Clerk upon the filing with him or her by the licensee
of an affidavit setting forth the circumstances of the loss and what,
if any, search has been made for its recovery.
All licenses shall be issued from a properly
bound book with proper reference stubs kept for that purpose, numbered
in that order in which they are issued, and shall state clearly the
kind of vehicle to be used, the kind of goods, wares and merchandise
to be sold or service to be rendered, the number of his or her license,
the date of issuance and expiration of the license, fee paid and the
name and address of the licensee.
Such license shall be for such term as requested
by the applicant but shall expire not later than the first day of
January next succeeding.
Every licensee, while exercising his or her
license, shall carry the license with him or her and shall exhibit
the same upon demand.
[Amended 9-1-1994 by L.L. No. 1-1994; 11-5-2015 by L.L. No. 5-2015]
A.
The license fee for each person licensed as a hawker,
peddler or solicitor is set forth at the Town of Walworth Fee Schedule
on file with the Walworth Town Clerk, which fee shall be determined
by Town Board resolution.
B.
The license fee for each person licensed to assist
a hawker, peddler or solicitor is that fee set forth at the Town of
Walworth Fee Schedule on file with the Walworth Town Clerk, which
fee shall be determined by Town Board resolution. For the purpose
of this chapter, a person who assists a hawker, peddler or solicitor
shall be deemed to be any person who participates in delivering merchandise
or any other items sold, performs and services in or about the customer’s
premises or otherwise generally renders aid or assistance, except
participating in selling or soliciting orders.
A license issued pursuant to this chapter may
be revoked after a public hearing as provided in Article 9 of the
Town Law.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to enter upon
private property for the purpose of peddling or soliciting before
the hour of 9:00 a.m. of any day or after the hour of 9:00 p.m. of
any day, except upon the invitation of the householder or occupant.
B.
It shall be unlawful for any peddler or solicitor
in plying his or her trade to ring the bell or knock upon or enter
any building whereon there is painted or otherwise affixed or displayed
to public view any sign containing any or all of the following words:
"No Peddlers," "No Solicitors," "No Agents" or other wording, the
purpose of which purports to prohibit peddling or soliciting on the
premises.
C.
No peddler or solicitor shall peddle, vend or sell
his or her goods or wares within 200 feet of any place occupied exclusively
as a public or private school or for school purposes nor shall he/she
permit his or her cart, wagon or vehicle to stand on any public highway
within said distance of such school property.
D.
No peddler or solicitor shall falsely or fraudulently
misrepresent the quantity, character or quality of any article offered
for sale. No person shall by any trick or device or by any false representation
obtain or attempt to obtain admission to the house or garage of any
person or corporation in the Town.
E.
No peddler or solicitor shall blow a horn, ring a
bell or use any other noisy device to attract public attention to
his or her wares or shout or cry out his or her wares.
F.
It shall be unlawful to create or maintain any booth
or stand or place any barrels, boxes, crates or other obstructions
upon any street or public place for the purpose of selling or exposing
for sale any goods, wares or merchandise.
G.
No peddler or solicitor shall represent or state or
otherwise indicate that he/she is not intending to sell or otherwise
enter into a contract with any person in the household.
H.
Entering upon private property without prior permission.
(1)
Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter,
no person shall enter upon any private residential property in the
Town of Walworth for the purpose of vending, peddling or soliciting
an order for any merchandise, device, work, services, book, periodical
or printed matter whatsoever; nor for the purpose of soliciting alms
or a subscription or a contribution to any church, charitable or public
institution; nor for the purpose of distributing any handbill, pamphlet,
tract, notice or advertising matter; nor for the purpose of selling
or distributing any ticket or chance whatsoever without the consent
of the occupant of said premises previously given.
(2)
Exception. This subsection shall not be construed
to apply to any person who has been a bona fide resident of the Town
of Walworth for a period of at least six consecutive months last past
nor to any person who has maintained an established place of business
in the Town of Walworth for a period of at least six consecutive months
prior thereto or his or her duly authorized representative.
I.
Any contract or sale made in violation of Subsection D, G or H shall be null and void and of no effect as to the person solicited, and any merchandise delivered shall be forfeited and any sums paid by the person so solicited shall become immediately due and payable jointly and severally by the peddler or solicitor and his or her principal.
All orders taken by licensed solicitors who
demand, accept or receive payment or deposit of money in advance of
final delivery shall be in writing, made in duplicate, stating the
terms thereof and the amount paid in advance, and one copy shall be
given to the purchaser at the time the deposit is paid to the solicitor.
It shall be the duty of the Town Clerk to keep
a record of all applications and of all licenses granted under the
provisions of this chapter, giving the number and date of each license,
the fee paid and the date of revocation of all licenses revoked.
[Amended 9-1-1994 by L.L. No. 1-1994; 10-7-1999 by L.L. No.
5-1999]
A violation of any provision of this chapter
is hereby declared to be a violation and shall be punishable by a
fine not exceeding $250 or imprisonment of not more than 15 days,
or both.
