[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Braintree 6-15-2010 by Ord. No. 10-012 (former Ch. 5.32 of the Town Bylaws, derived from prior code Ch. 99). Amendments noted where applicable.]
A person licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a transient vendor under the provisions of MGL c. 101, § 3, shall, before making any sales of goods, wares or merchandise within the limits of the Town, make application to the Board of License Commissioners for a local license; such local license shall be subject to such reasonable rules and regulations and to the payment of a license fee in accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 101, § 5.
A person licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a hawker or peddler under the provisions of MGL c. 101, § 22, shall, before making any sale of goods, wares or merchandise within the limits of the Town, apply for a permit from the Board of License Commissioners; such permit shall be subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as may from time to time be made by the Board of License Commissioners.
The Board of License Commissioners may from time to time make reasonable rules and regulations governing the granting of temporary licenses to any organization engaged exclusively in charitable work, or to a post of any incorporated organization of veterans who served in the military or naval service of the United States in time of war or insurrection for the sale of flags, badges, medals, buttons, flowers, souvenirs and similar small articles, in accordance with the provisions of MGL c. 101, § 33.
[Amended 9-15-2015 by Ord. No. 14-022; 3-2-2016 by Ord. No. 14-022(R)]
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to protect the citizens of Braintree from crime, undue annoyance and fraudulent door-to-door solicitors and canvassers by requiring those who wish to engage in such activity to register with the Braintree Police Department.
B. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
Includes without limitation each individual dwelling unit.
SOLICITATION or CANVASSING
Traveling by foot, motor vehicle or any type of conveyance, from place to place, from house to house, or from street to street, whether for salary, commission or other remuneration, whether on behalf of oneself or another person, business, firm, corporation, organization or other entity, and (a) selling, leasing or taking orders for the sale of any goods, wares, merchandise or services whatsoever, including, but not limited to, books, periodicals, food, and home improvement services, or attempting to so sell, lease or take orders, whether or not advance payment on such sales is collected; or (b) seeking or requesting donations of money, goods or services for any for-profit entity or nonprofit entity; even if the original solicitation is made in writing, by telephone or any electronic communication.
C. 
Prohibition and requirements.
(1) 
No person shall engage in solicitation or canvassing in or upon any private residential property in the Town of Braintree, and no business, firm, corporation, organization or other entity shall arrange for any person to engage in solicitation or canvassing in or upon any residential property, without first registering with the Chief of Police not less than 10 business days before commencing such solicitation or canvassing and obtaining from the Chief of Police a certificate evidencing such registration.
(2) 
Persons engaged in solicitation or canvassing shall prominently display around their neck a fluorescent orange lanyard and attached card holder, and a five-inch by seven-inch identification card visible at all times on the chest area. The solicitor or company is responsible to provide said lanyard and create an identification card, which shall be inserted into the lanyard card holder. The identification card will contain 1) an identification number (assigned by the company or entity soliciting), 2) company name, 3) solicitor's name, 4) signature, 5) current photo, 6) phone number and name of company official responsible for the canvassing or soliciting operation in case of emergency or other immediate contact needs, 7) start date and expiration date (not to exceed 30 days), and shall have the approved 8) Braintree Police certificate of registration inserted in back of the identification card, and shall produce such certificate upon request. Failure to wear the provided lanyard and card holder shall result in a violation of $300 per individual and 9) $300 per primary employing entity per violation per day, which shall be considered separate from item No. 8. If a fine is issued to any party or entity, said party will be prohibited from soliciting in the Town of Braintree until the fine is paid.
(3) 
Immediately upon encountering an occupant of any residential property, a person engaged in solicitation or canvassing shall present such certificate of registration for inspection and inform the occupant of the nature and purpose of his/her business, and if he/she is representing an organization, firm, or other entity.
(4) 
Each person engaged in solicitation or canvassing in or upon any residential premises shall immediately leave such premises upon the request of the occupant.
(5) 
No person shall engage in solicitation or canvassing in or upon any residential property upon which is displayed a sign prohibiting trespassing, solicitation or canvassing.
(6) 
No person engaging in solicitation or canvassing shall misrepresent in any way his/her true objective, status or mission or that of any organization on behalf of which he/she is so engaged.
(7) 
Persons engaging in solicitation or canvassing shall comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations, including but not limited to consumer protection laws such as Chapters 93, 93A and 255D of the Massachusetts General Laws. Braintree Police shall provide all applicants with a copy of Chapter 5-565, Peddling and Soliciting, and highlight Section 5.565.050.
(8) 
Anyone applying to canvas or solicit must provide a direct contact name and telephone number of the direct supervisor or person responsible for the management of all those canvassing or soliciting. This direct contact must be accessible via phone at all times should issues arise.
(9) 
No person shall place, deposit or throw or cause to be placed, deposited or thrown upon or into a motor vehicle, which is parked on any street, lane, parking lot or other public place, any leaflet, pamphlet, poster, handbill, flyer or any paper containing printed or written matter, whether advertising or not, with the exception of any violation ticket or summons issued pursuant to lawful authority (see Subsection G, Penalty).
D. 
Registration.
(1) 
Application. Persons seeking registration certificates in accordance with this section shall apply therefor not less than 10 business days before commencing solicitation or canvassing in the Town of Braintree. Such application shall be signed under the penalties of perjury and shall contain the following information on a form provided by the Chief of Police:
(a) 
Applicant's name, home address and telephone number;
(b) 
Name of applicant's business, firm, corporation, organization, or other entity represented, business address and telephone number;
(c) 
Applicant's date of birth;
(d) 
Applicant's social security number;
(e) 
Applicants must produce a copy of their driver's license, or a photograph will be taken by the Braintree Police Department at the time of registering;
(f) 
Length of time for which applicant seeks to conduct business in the Town of Braintree;
(g) 
Description of the nature of the business and the goods or services to be sold or purpose(s) for which donations are to be requested;
(h) 
If applicant is operating or being transported by a motor vehicle, the year, make, model, color, registration number, state of registration, owner's name and address of each such vehicle;
(i) 
Each applicant or individual canvasser/solicitor must sign a release authorizing the Town of Braintree, acting by and through the Police Department or the Licensing Coordinator for the Board of License Commissioners, to process a Criminal Offender Record Information (C.O.R.I.) report for each individual canvasser/solicitor that has been completed in the past 60 days. Each C.O.R.I. will cost the applicant or entity $75, payable to the Town of Braintree. If any applicant or individual canvasser/solicitor is from outside of Massachusetts, said applicant, individual canvasser or solicitor shall provide a certified copy of said individual canvasser's or solicitor's equivalent Criminal Offender Record Information issued by said canvasser's or solicitor's state of residence for each of the seven years preceding the date of application. Applicants or individual canvassers/solicitors who have been convicted (found guilty) of any of the following offenses within the past seven years are prohibited from canvassing or soliciting in Braintree: burglary, drug distribution, Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders, breaking and entering, larceny, robbery, receiving stolen property, assault, fraud, sexual misconduct, and unlawfully carrying weapons.
(2) 
Contents of certificate. Each certificate of registration shall contain the signature of the Chief of Police or his/her designee and shall show the name, address and photograph of the holder of the certificate, date of issue and registration number.
(3) 
Expiration of certificate. Each certificate of registration issued pursuant to this section shall expire 30 days from the date of issue. Certificates must be returned to the Braintree Police Department when the applicant has concluded his/her solicitation activities in the Town of Braintree.
(4) 
Transfer of certificate. No certificate of registration may be transferred to any other person or entity.
(5) 
Revocation of certificate. The Chief of Police may revoke the certificate of registration of any solicitor or canvasser for violation of any provision of this section or for providing false information on the application.
(6) 
Duties of Police Department. The Police Department shall keep a record of all certificates of registration, including registration numbers, and applications therefor, for a period of six years after application or such time as the public records retention laws may provide, whichever is longer. Enforcement authority of this section shall be by the Braintree Police Department.
E. 
Exception. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the following persons:
(1) 
Any person duly licensed under Chapter 101 of the General Laws, or to any person exempted under Chapter 101, Chapter 149, § 69, and Chapter 180, § 4, of the General Laws, or any other General Law.
(2) 
Any officer or employee of the Town, county, state or federal government on official business.
(3) 
Route salespersons or others having established customers making periodic deliveries to such customers or making calls upon prospective customers to solicit orders for periodic route deliveries, including but not limited to news carriers.
(4) 
Individuals seeking to engage in exclusively noncommercial communication.
(5) 
Exempted entities include but shall not be limited to religious organizations, political entities, charitable and fraternal organizations and other noncommercial community groups.
F. 
Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this section shall be declared invalid or held unconstitutional by any court of last resort, the remainder shall continue in full force and effect.
G. 
Penalty. Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $300 for each offense.[1]
[1]
Note: This section was originally added STM 5-6-1996 by Art. 15 and amended STM 10-8-2002 by Art. 18.