[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Lehigh 11-14-1995 by Ord. No. 1995-4. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Peace and good order — See Ch. 111.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PEDDLER and SOLICITOR
Any person who shall engage in peddling or soliciting respectively, as herein defined.
PEDDLING
Engaging in canvassing, soliciting or taking orders, by sample or otherwise, for any goods, wares or merchandise upon any of the streets or sidewalks or from house to house within the Township.
SOLICITING
The seeking or taking of contracts or orders for any goods, wares, merchandise, foods stuffs, services of any kind, character or description whatsoever, including building repairs, or for subscriptions to books, magazines, periodicals, newspapers and every other type or kind of publication, or for contributions, to or canvassing for membership in any profit or nonprofit organization or corporation whether religious, charitable, political or otherwise, upon any of the Township's streets or sidewalks, or from house to house, or by visitation to private residences, or by entering in or upon private property within the Township.
Every person who wishes to engage in soliciting or peddling in the Township shall first apply for a license for the same with the Township Zoning Officer, or other delegated Township official.
A. 
Every qualified applicant desiring to engage in peddling or soliciting shall first make application to the Township Zoning Officer for a license.
B. 
Upon such application, such applicant shall give his/her name, address, previous criminal record, if any, the nature and type of solicitation or peddling he/she wishes to undertake, the length of time for which he/she wishes to be licensed, the type of vehicle he/she uses and license plate number, and the number, names, and addresses of any helpers; provided, where a person makes application for himself/herself and one or more helpers, all applicable personal information specified above shall be given for each helper. Each helper must be individually licensed.
C. 
No license issued under this chapter shall be transferable from one person to another.
A. 
No license shall be issued under this chapter until a fee is paid to the Township. The fee, which shall be for the use of the Township, shall be in accordance with the fee schedule approved by the Board of Supervisors.
B. 
The Township Zoning Officer is authorized to issue a license without charge when it appears that the proposed solicitation of funds or sales will be for the benefit of any charitable organization or other similar and worthy nonprofit cause.
Upon making application therefor and paying the proper fee, as herein specified, a license shall be issued to every peddler, solicitor, or helper. Such license shall contain the information required to be given upon the application therefor.
A. 
No person licensed as a peddler, solicitor, or helper under this chapter shall engage in peddling or soliciting except on the following days and times:
(1) 
During daylight savings time, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; and
(2) 
During standard time, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; and between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.
B. 
It is unlawful and a violation of this chapter for any person to go upon any premises and ring the doorbell upon or near any door of a residence, structure, building located thereon, or rap or knock upon any door, or create any sound in any other manner calculated to attract the attention of the occupant of such residence, structure, or building, for the purpose of securing an audience or discussions with the occupant thereof and engage in soliciting or peddling as herein defined except on the days and during the times provided in § 115-6A.
A. 
Any person who does not wish to have solicitors, peddlers or helpers come onto their property at any time shall conspicuously post a sign on their residence or premises which sign shall read as follows: "NO SOLICITORS OR PEDDLERS INVITED." The letters shall be at least two inches in height. Such sign so exhibited shall constitute sufficient notice to any solicitor, peddler, or helper of the determination by the occupant of the residence, structure or building or premises that solicitors, peddlers, or helpers are not invited onto the premises and are thus banned from said premises.
B. 
It shall be the duty of every solicitor, peddler, or helper, upon going onto any premises in the Township on which a residence, structure or building is located, to examine and look for the sign provided in Subsection A of this section, if any is posted, and be governed by the statement contained on the sign. If the sign states "NO SOLICITORS OR PEDDLERS INVITED," then the solicitor, peddler, or helper shall immediately and peacefully depart from the premises.
C. 
Any solicitor, peddler, or helper who has gained entrance to any residence, structure, or building, whether invited or not, shall immediately and peacefully depart from the premises when requested to do so by the owner or occupant.
D. 
It is hereby declared to be unlawful and a violation of this chapter for any person to go upon any premises and ring the door bell upon or near any door, or create any sound in any other manner calculated to attract the attention of the occupant of such residence, structure, or building, for the purpose of securing an audience and/or discussion with the occupant thereof and engage in soliciting or peddling as herein defined in defiance of the sign exhibited at the residence in accordance with the provisions of Subsection A of this section.
No person licensed as a peddler, solicitor, or helper under this chapter shall hawk or cry his wares upon any of the streets or sidewalks of the Township, nor shall he/she use any loudspeaker or horn or any other device for announcing his/her presence, product or service.
No person licensed as a peddler, solicitor, or helper under this chapter shall park any vehicle upon any of the streets or alleys of the Township in order to sort, rearrange or clean any of his goods, wares or merchandise; nor may any such person place or deposit any refuse upon any of such streets or alleys; nor may any such person maintain or keep a street or curbstone market by parking any vehicle upon any street or alley in the Township for longer than necessary to sell therefrom to persons residing in the immediate vicinity.
No person licensed as a peddler, solicitor, or helper under this chapter shall occupy any fixed location upon any of the streets, alleys or sidewalks of the Township for the purpose of peddling or soliciting with or without any stand or counter.
The Township Zoning Officer is hereby authorized to suspend or revoke any license issued under this article when he/she deems such suspension or revocation to be beneficial to the public health, safety, or morals of the Township residents, or for violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, or for giving false information upon any application for a license hereunder.