No person, firm or corporation shall canvass, solicit, distribute
circulars or other matter or call from house to house in the Township
of Morris to sell, promote the sale of or attempt to sell goods by
sample or to take or attempt to take orders for the future delivery
of goods, merchandise, wares or any property, personal or real, of
any nature whatsoever, or take or attempt to take orders for services
to be furnished or performed presently or in the future without first
having obtained a written permit therefor from the Police Department
of the Township of Morris.
Permit holders shall be allowed to solicit only on Monday to
Saturday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Solicitors are
encouraged to wear reflective clothing and carry a flashlight if soliciting
after dark.
The Morris Township Police Department shall issue all permits within 48 hours of the time when an applicant has completed the requisites set forth in §
374-3A,
B,
C,
D and
E and the results have been received. In computing the forty-eight-hour period, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays shall be excluded from such computation.
Each permit holder shall be issued a permit which shall be prominently
displayed upon the person of the permit holder whenever such permit
holder is engaged in canvassing or soliciting.
Each applicant for a permit shall pay a fee of $25 for an annual
permit. The permit shall expire on December 31 of each year, and no
permit fee shall be prorated for part of the year.
No permit shall be transferable. In the case of a firm or corporation,
each person representing such firm or corporation shall be issued
a separate permit.
The Police Department of the Township of Morris shall have the
power and authority to grant, deny or revoke permits, as provided
for and in accordance with the terms of this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
BONA FIDE RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, BENEVOLENT, EDUCATIONAL OR
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
Any organization that is qualified under state or federal
law as a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization or any organization or
group that espouses or advocates a position or belief on any subject
of public interest or on behalf of any candidate for public office
or acting in furtherance of any candidate, educational or benevolent
interest or cause.
CANVASS
To call upon persons to elicit or determine opinions, feelings,
sentiments or information of any nature.
Any person, firm or corporation charged with violating any of
the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be
liable for a fine not exceeding $200 or imprisonment in the county
jail not exceeding 90 days, or both.
Any candidate for public office or person campaigning on behalf
of such a candidate, where such candidate is seeking election to an
office to be voted upon by the residents of the Township of Morris
who are duly registered to vote in elections in accordance with the
laws of the State of New Jersey, shall be exempt from the requirements
of this chapter.
The sole authority for the administration of this chapter shall
be the Police Department of the Township of Morris.