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 card in accordance with this Chapter. A canvasser is not required to have an identification card but any canvasser wanting an identification card 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 cards 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 cards 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 card will nonetheless be issued subject, however, to administrative revocation upon completion of the investigation. If a canvasser requests an identification card, the investigation will proceed as described above, but if the City refuses to issue the identification card (or revokes it after issuance), the canvasser will be advised that the failure to procure an identification card does not prevent him/her from canvassing the residents of the City.
If the issuing officer denies, or upon completion of an investigation revokes, the identification card to one (1) or more persons, he/she shall immediately convey the decision to the applicant orally and shall within sixteen (16) working hours after the denial prepare a written report of the reason for the denial which shall be immediately made available to the applicant. Upon receipt of the oral notification and even before the preparation of the written report, the applicant shall have at his/her option an appeal of the denial of his/her application before the Board of Aldermen at its next regular meeting.
If the applicant requests a hearing under Section
620.090, 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 card 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 card 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.