[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Bethel as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 6-10-2008 by Ord. No. 185]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PEDDLING
Engaging in any form of sale, solicitation or order taking for any good or service or the solicitation of any payment or donation of money or property or any commitment for the payment or donation of money or property from any resident of Bethel Township at the home or property of such resident of Bethel Township.
TRANSIENT MERCHANT
Includes any person who or which engages in or intends to engage in peddling within Bethel Township.
Peddling within Bethel Township shall be prohibited unless the transient merchant has first applied for and obtained a permit from the Township in accordance with the provisions of this article.
A. 
All transient merchants shall, prior to the commencement of any peddling activity, submit an application to Bethel Township, on a form provided by Bethel Township for a peddling permit and in connection with said application provide the following information:
(1) 
Full name, address and telephone number of the person to be engaged in the peddling activity.
(2) 
The name of any company, organization or similar entity for which or on whose behalf the peddling activity will be conducted.
(3) 
The nature or description of the good or service to be offered, or the recipient of the donation of money or property sought.
(4) 
The make, model and year of each vehicle used or intended to be used in connection with the peddling activity. A copy of the registration for all such vehicles shall be provided at the time of application.
(5) 
Whether the applicant or any persons proposed to be engaged in the peddling activity have ever been convicted of a crime other than a violation of the Motor Vehicle Code, and if so, the date and nature of the offense.
(6) 
Names of other municipalities in Delaware County in which the applicant and/or the persons to be engaged in the peddling activity have worked as peddlers in the past two years.
(7) 
The respective dates and times and areas of Bethel Township in which the applicant intends to conduct the peddling activity.
B. 
The Township shall have through its Police Department seven days for background checks and to verify the accuracy of the information provided to comply with the requirement of Subsection A of this section.
C. 
Upon satisfactory compliance with the requirements of this article, Bethel Township shall issue a peddling permit to the applicant in accordance with the application.
A. 
All applicants shall pay to Bethel Township, at the time of the application, a permit fee as established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors, from time to time. All permits shall be issued on an annual basis.
B. 
All permits issued pursuant to this article shall be issued on an annual basis and expire on December 31 of the year in which the permit was issued. Upon the expiration of the permit, a new application shall be filed with Bethel Township, in accordance with the provisions of this article.
A. 
Bethel Township's no peddling registry. Residents may register with the Township to prohibit peddling on his or her property. Bethel Township shall maintain a copy of the Registry at its offices and also shall provide a copy to the applicant at the time of issuance of the peddling permit.
B. 
No peddler shall attempt to peddle to any resident who has posted upon the resident's property signs such as "No Solicitation," "No Peddling," "No Trespassing" or such similar signs indicating a prohibition of entry upon the resident's property.
C. 
Any peddler entering upon a resident's property shall immediately leave said property when asked or instructed to do so by anyone present on the property.
No peddling activity shall occur between the hours of 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 a.m.
The terms of this article shall not apply to the following when a peddler is seeking donations of money or property when conducted as part of an officially sponsored fund-raising program: Volunteer fire and emergency medical services and members of little league and petticoat leagues and boy scouts and girl scouts when: accompanied by a coach or leader; and in uniform.
A. 
Notwithstanding the issuance of a permit, no person shall engage in any form of peddling or other activity which threatens the health, safety or welfare of Bethel Township or its residents.
B. 
Any permit issued pursuant to this article shall be prominently displayed by all peddlers at all times when peddling activity is being conducted within Bethel Township.
C. 
Permits shall be issued on an individual basis and shall not be transferable to any other person or entity.
D. 
Peddling conducted following the issuance of a permit shall be strictly limited to the terms of the permit.
Violation of this article shall constitute a summary offense and shall result in the revocation of any issued permit or the denial of any pending permit application. In addition, the Board of Supervisors may prescribe a fine in the minimum amount of $350 but not to exceed $600 per violation and may also prescribe imprisonment to the extent allowed by law for the punishment of summary offenses.