As used in this Chapter, the following words have the meaning
indicated:
CANVASSER
A person who attempts to make personal contact with a resident
at his/her residence without prior specific invitation or appointment
from the resident for the primary purpose of (1) attempting to enlist
support for or against a particular religion, philosophy, ideology,
political party, issue or candidate, even if incidental to such purpose
the canvasser accepts the donation of money for or against such cause,
or (2) distributing a handbill or flyer advertising a non-commercial
event or service.
PEDDLER
A person who attempts to make personal contact with a resident
at his/her residence without prior specific invitation or appointment
from the resident for the primary purpose of attempting to sell a
good or service. A "peddler" does not include a person
who distributes handbills or flyers for a commercial purpose, advertising
an event, activity, good or service that is offered to the resident
for purchase at a location away from the residence or at a time different
from the time of visit. Such a person is a "solicitor".
SOLICITOR
A person who attempts to make personal contact with a resident
at his/her residence without prior specific invitation or appointment
from the resident for the primary purpose of (1) attempting to obtain
a donation to a particular patriotic, philanthropic, social service,
welfare, benevolent, educational, civic, fraternal, charitable, political
or religious purpose, even if incidental to such purpose there is
the sale of some good or service, or (2) distributing a handbill or
flyer advertising a commercial event or service.
This Chapter shall not apply to a Federal, State or local government
employee or a public utility employee in the performance of his/her
duty for his/her employer.
No person shall act as a peddler or as a solicitor within the
City without first obtaining an identification certificate in accordance
with this Chapter. A canvasser is not required to have an identification
certificate but any canvasser wanting an identification certificate
for the purpose of reassuring City residents of the canvasser's good
faith shall be issued one upon request.
Any person or organization, formal or informal, may apply for
one (1) or more identification certificates by completing an application
form at the office of the issuing officer during regular office hours.
During the period of time following the application for one (1) or more identification certificates and its issuance, the City shall investigate as to the truth and accuracy of the information contained in the application. If the City has not completed this investigation within the sixteen (16) business hours provided in Section
620.070, the identification certificate will nonetheless be issued subject, however, to administrative revocation upon completion of the investigation. If a canvasser requests an identification certificate, the investigation will proceed as described above, but if the City refuses to issue the identification certificate (or revokes it after issuance), the canvasser will be advised that the failure to procure an identification certificate does not prevent him/her from canvassing the residents of the City.
Instead of the application procedure above, if an applicant
produces identification certificates issued by another City having
an ordinance substantially the same as this one, the issuing officer
may in his/her discretion immediately issue identification certificates
without the necessity of a formal application or investigation.
If the applicant requests a hearing under Section
620.100, the hearing shall be held in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act of the State of Missouri and review from the decision (on the record of the hearing) shall be had to the Circuit Court of the County in which the City is located. The hearing shall also be subject to the Missouri open meetings and records law.
Each identification certificate shall be, when the individual
for whom it was issued is acting as a peddler or solicitor, worn on
the outer clothing of the individual as so to be reasonably visible
to any person who might be approached by said person.
An identification certificate shall be valid within the meaning
of this Chapter for a period of six (6) months from its date of issuance
or the term requested, whichever is less.
Any person violating any part of this Chapter shall have committed
a trespass on such property and shall be prosecuted under the general
trespass ordinance of the City. The penalty for such violation shall
be the same as for any other trespass.