[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Williston
Park 9-22-1975 by L.L. No. 2-1975 as Ch. 17 of the 1975 Code. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, unless the context or subject matter otherwise
requires, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Considered as synonymous with the terms "solicit" and "solicitor."
Any association of individuals, partnerships, firms, corporations,
societies or any other organizations.
To go from house to house, from store to store, from place to place
or from street to street to sell and make immediate delivery or offer for
sale and delivery any goods, wares, merchandise or provisions in possession
of the seller at any place within the Village of Williston Park other than
from a fixed place of business.
Any person or company who or which peddles as herein defined. The
words "peddler," "hawker" and "huckster" are considered synonymous terms.
Only a natural person or an individual, whether a resident of the
Village of Williston Park or not.
To go from house to house, from store to store, from place to place
or from street to street to sell or take orders for goods, wares, merchandise
or provisions for future delivery or for services to be performed at any place
within the Village of Williston Park or to distribute advertising matter.
Any person or company who or which solicits as herein defined.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person or company to peddle
or solicit within the Village of Williston Park without having first obtained
a valid license therefor as provided herein.
An application for a license shall contain the following information:
A.
Name and description of applicant.
B.
Address of applicant (local and legal).
C.
A brief description of the nature of the business and
the kind of goods or property to be peddled or solicited.
D.
A statement as to whether or not the applicant has ever
been convicted of any crime, misdemeanor or violation of any municipal ordinance,
local law, rule or regulation and the nature of the offense and the punishment
or penalty assessed therefor, if any.
E.
Two photographs of the applicant, taken not more than
60 days prior to the date of filing of the application, which pictures shall
be two inches by two inches showing the head and shoulders of the applicant
in a clear and distinguishing manner.
F.
A statement that the applicant is a citizen and whether
citizenship was obtained by birth or naturalization and, if by naturalization,
the date and place where obtained. If the applicant is an alien, a statement
as to the date and place of registration shall be included.
G.
If employed by the owner of a licensed vehicle to be
used in the trade, the name and address of such employer together with credentials
establishing the exact relationship.
H.
If for a vehicle license, a description of the vehicle,
together with state license number or other means of identification.
I.
If the applicant is a company, the name, address and
title of the officer thereof upon whom process or other legal notice may be
served.
A.
Referral to Police Department. Upon receipt of such application,
one copy shall be referred to the Nassau County Police Department for such
investigation of the applicant to be made as it deems necessary for the protection
of the public good.
B.
Report of Police Department. If such investigation should
prove the applicant to have a police record, the Police Department shall attach
to such application a copy of the applicant's police record and shall return
the application to the Village Clerk, who shall notify the applicant that
his or her application is disapproved and that no license will be issued on
said application if the information contained in such police record would
indicate that the applicant is unfit to receive a license.
C.
Issuance of license. If as a result of such investigation
of the applicant no police record is found, the Police Department shall attach
to the application a statement that it has no record of the applicant and
shall return said application to the Village Clerk. Upon the return of such
application and approval by the licensing officer and the payment of the prescribed
license fee by the applicant, the Village Clerk shall prepare and deliver
to the applicant his or her license and tag. Such license shall contain the
Seal of the village and the signature of the licensing officer and shall show
the name, address and photograph of the licensee, the class of license issued,
the kind of goods to be peddled or solicited thereunder, the amount of fee
paid, the license number, the date of issuance and the date of expiration
of such license, as well as the state license number or other identifying
description of the vehicle, if for a vehicular license.
D.
Records. The Village Clerk shall keep a record of all
licenses issued.
The licensing officer may issue a license without the application required
under this chapter to any person who shall submit a certified copy of a license
issued by any other municipality within the County of Nassau whose licensing
requirements are substantially the equivalent to those established by this
chapter; provided, however, that such municipalities extend similar reciprocity
to licensees of the Village of Williston Park as determined by the licensing
officer.
Fees shall be as provided in Chapter 93, Fees. The annual fee therein provided for shall be assessed on a calendar year basis, and all licenses shall expire on the 31st day of December immediately following the date of issuance. There shall be no reduction in fees for fractional parts of the year.
A.
Wearing of badges. To each person licensed under this
chapter the Village Clerk shall issue a metal or plastic badge which shall
bear the words "Peddler or Solicitor," the number of the license and the calendar
year for which the license is issued in figures plainly discernible. Such
badge shall be worn constantly by the licensee on his or her outer garment
in such a way as to be conspicuous during such time as said licensee is plying
his or her trade.
B.
Vehicular license plate. For each vehicle licensed under
this chapter the Village Clerk shall issue a metal or plastic license plate
which shall bear the words "Peddler or Solicitor," the number of the license
and the calendar year for which such license is issued in figures plainly
discernible. Said license plate shall be attached to the rear of each vehicle
in a conspicuous place and shall be kept clear and readable at all times.
C.
Replacement of lost badges. To each person licensed under
this chapter who loses his or her badge issued by the licensing officer, the
Village Clerk shall issue a replacement upon said person submitting an affidavit
setting forth the facts surrounding and establishing the loss of said badge
and payment of the proper fee.
Every peddler or solicitor licensed under this chapter shall have his
or her license in his or her immediate possession at all times when peddling
or soliciting and shall display the same upon demand of any person.
No license, license plate or badge issued under the provisions of this
chapter may be transferred from one person to another person or from one vehicle
to another vehicle, nor shall the badge so issued be used or worn at any time
by any person other than the one to whom it was issued.
No peddler or solicitor shall have any exclusive right to any location
in the public streets, nor shall any be permitted a stationary location, nor
shall any be permitted to operate in any congested area where his or her operation
might impede or inconvenience the public. For the purpose of this chapter,
the judgment of any police officer, exercised in good faith, shall be deemed
conclusive as to whether the area is congested or the public impeded or inconvenienced.
A.
Hours of peddling or soliciting. 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 1/2 hour before
sunset of any day or after the hour of 7:00 p.m. of any day except upon the
invitation of the householder or occupant.
B.
Signs. 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.
Proximity to church or school. No peddler or solicitor
shall peddle, vend or sell his or her goods or wares within 200 feet of any
church or place of worship or any place occupied exclusively as a public or
private school or for school purposes, nor shall a peddler or solicitor permit
his or her cart, wagon or vehicle to stand on any public highway within said
distance of such school property.
D.
Scenes of accidents. No solicitor shall solicit any business
whatsoever at the scene of any accident within the incorporated area of the
Village of Williston Park.
E.
Sound devices. It shall be unlawful for any peddler or
solicitor plying his or her trade to use any bells, chimes, records, horns
or other sound-producing devices for the purpose of attracting customers before
the hour of 9:00 a.m. or after the hour of 8:30 p.m. of any day.
If the applicant for a peddler's or solicitor's license uses scales
or measures in his or her business, the applicant shall also file with his
or her application for a license a certificate issued by the Nassau County
Sealer of Weights and Measures that the applicant's scales or measures have
been tested and sealed.
Any honorably discharged veteran of the armed services of the United States or a widow of a deceased veteran who has obtained a veteran's license from the Nassau County Clerk to hawk, peddle, vend or solicit trade in pursuance of law on the streets and highways of the county shall be exempt from the provisions of § 157-6 of this chapter. In lieu of a license as prescribed in § 157-4C of this chapter, the Village Clerk, upon approval of the veteran's application, shall issue a badge and permit to said veteran to ply his or her trade within the Village of Williston Park, subject to all other provisions of this chapter. Such permit will be stamped in ink on the face of the county license.
This chapter will not apply to religious and charitable organizations. The provisions of §§ 157-2 to 157-9, inclusive, of this chapter shall not apply to the peddling of fish, fruit or farm produce by persons who produce such commodities. This exemption shall apply only to natural persons and shall not be construed to include farmers or other persons who buy goods for resale, as well as selling their own produce, or to any helper or employee of such exempt person.
It shall be the duty of any police officer of the County of Nassau to
require any person seen peddling or soliciting and who is not known by such
police officer to be duly licensed to produce his or her peddler's or solicitor's
license and to enforce the provisions of this chapter against any person found
to be violating the same.
The Police Department shall report to the Village Clerk all convictions
for violation of this chapter, and the Village Clerk shall record the reports
of such violations.
A.
Grounds. Licenses issued under the provisions of this
chapter may be revoked by the licensing officer after notice and hearing for
any of the following causes:
(1)
Fraud, misrepresentation or false statement contained
in the application for license.
(2)
Fraud, misrepresentation or false statement made in the
course of carrying on his or her business as peddler or solicitor.
(3)
Any violation of this chapter.
(4)
Conviction of any crime or misdemeanor involving moral
turpitude.
(5)
Conducting the business of peddling in an unlawful manner
or in such a manner as to constitute a breach of the peace or to constitute
a menace to the health, safety or general welfare of the public.
B.
Notice of hearing. Notice of the hearing for revocation
of a license shall be given in writing, setting forth specifically the grounds
of complaint and the time and place of hearing. Such notice shall be mailed,
postage prepaid, to the licensee at his or her last known address at least
five days prior to the date set for hearing.
Any person aggrieved by the action of the licensing officer in the denial of an application for a license as provided in § 157-4 of this chapter or in the decision of the licensing officer with reference to the revocation of a license as provided in § 157-17 of this chapter shall have the right to appeal to the Board of Trustees. Such appeal shall be taken by filing, within 14 days after notice of the action complained of has been mailed to such person's last known address, a written statement setting forth fully the grounds for the appeal. The Village Board shall set a time and place for a hearing on such appeal, and notice of such hearing shall be mailed to the applicant at his or her last known address at least five days prior to the date set for the hearing. The decision and order of the Board of Trustees on such appeal shall be final and conclusive.