[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Chester 11-4-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-15. Amendments noted where applicable.]
For the purpose of this chapter, the terms used herein are defined
as follows:
A person selling or exposing for sale articles of merchandise,
food, goods or services from a motor vehicle, cart, or movable facility
or display, also known as a "huckster"; a person commonly referred
to as a "peddler" or "hawker" who goes from place to place by traveling
on the streets either by foot, wagon, motor truck, or any type of
conveyance, or from house to house or door to door carrying goods,
wares and/or merchandise for the purpose of selling and delivering
them to consumers; a person who goes from place to place by traveling
on the streets or from house to house or door to door for the purpose
of purchasing goods or merchandise, including the purchase of junk,
household goods or discarded items; a person also known as a "solicitor"
or "canvasser," selling goods, merchandise or services by samples
or taking orders for future delivery with or without accepting an
advance payment for the goods. A holder of a vendor license shall
not be considered a concessionaire or operate as a concessionaire
at a special event or market licensed as a concessionaire for such
special event or market.
Includes the singular and plural and shall also mean and
include any person, firm, corporation or partnership or other fictitious
person or de jure entity.
A.
Except as otherwise provided herein, it shall be unlawful to engage
in the activities of a mobile vendor, or to sell or dispose of, or
offer to sell or dispose of, articles of merchandise, food, goods
or services from a motor vehicle, cart, or movable facility or display;
or to go from place to place by traveling on the streets either by
foot, wagon, motor truck, or any type of conveyance, or from house
to house or door to door and carrying goods, wares and/or merchandise,
for the purpose of selling and delivering them to consumers; or to
go from place to place by traveling on the streets or from house to
house or door to door for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise,
including the purchase of junk, household goods or discarded items;
or to sell goods, merchandise or services by samples or taking orders
for future delivery with or without accepting an advance payment for
the goods, without first obtaining a license as required by this chapter
and otherwise complying with all other applicable statutes, regulations
and ordinances.
B.
It shall be unlawful to violate this chapter, the terms and conditions
of any license issued hereunder, or any provision herein whether or
not licensed hereunder.
There is hereby created a mobile vendor license, which shall
be subject to the following:
A.
A vendor license may be issued only to a natural person whose application
for said license shall be approved as set forth in this section.
B.
The number of vendor licenses issued shall not exceed four.
C.
In no event shall more than one vendor license be issued to any person.
D.
Each licensee, as of the date of adoption hereof, who is in good standing under this section and its predecessor, shall be permitted to renew said license by complying with § 206-7.
E.
All vendor licenses shall terminate December 31 of the year of issue.
F.
Completed license applications shall be filed with the Borough Clerk
no earlier than October 1 and no later than November 1 of the calendar
year prior to that for which a license is sought.
G.
If a license or licenses are available for a given calendar year, late application can be made within the same given calendar year upon good cause being shown by the applicant to the satisfaction of the Mayor and Council and if the request is made at least 90 days prior to the first day of operation. The applicable fee may be prorated based upon approval of the governing body. However, such licenses shall not be entitled to the benefits of § 206-7B of this chapter.
A.
An application for a mobile vendor license shall be submitted, under
oath or affirmation, to the Borough Clerk with the applicable fee.
This fee shall not be refundable and shall be used to defray the costs
of investigation and processing. The application shall contain the
following information:
(1)
Name and address of the applicant;
(2)
Description of the applicant;
(3)
Name and address of the firm represented, if any, and an acknowledged
statement from the firm certifying that the applicant is authorized
to act as the employer's representative or a statement that the
applicant is self-employed;
(4)
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of three persons who have
known the applicant for a period in excess of three years;
(5)
The place of residence of the applicant for the three years immediately
preceding the date of application;
(6)
A brief description of the nature of the business and a description
of the tangible personal property or services to be offered for sale
or purchase. In the event the business, tangible personal property
or services are otherwise regulated by law, proof of compliance therewith
shall be shown;
(7)
If a vehicle is to be used, a description thereof including state
of registration, license plate number, the name and address of the
insurance carrier and insurance policy number;
(8)
The number and places of arrests, the number and places of convictions
for misdemeanors, disorderly persons offenses, or crimes and the nature
of the offenses for which the applicant has been convicted. This shall
include violation of ordinances other than traffic violations;
(9)
If the applicant is a natural person, two current passport photographs
showing the applicant's full face. The photographs shall be affixed
to the application;
(10)
Proof of tax identification number issued by the State of New
Jersey to the vendor; and
(11)
Proof of current sales tax filing with the State of New Jersey,
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:52-1.3, by the vendor.
B.
Each applicant for a mobile vendor license, if the applicant is a
natural person, shall be fingerprinted using an agency chosen by the
Chester Borough Police Department. The Chief of Police shall verify
the information included on the application and respecting the moral
character and business background of the applicant. The Chief of Police
is authorized to receive state criminal history record information
from the Division of State Police, State Bureau of Identification,
or other authorized source, for use in considering the suitability
of all applicants covered under this chapter. All requested criminal
history record checks will be subject to payment of the required user
fee by the applicant.
C.
All applications for a vendor license must be submitted to the Borough
Clerk, in complete form, no later than 30 days after the adoption
hereof, and no earlier than October 1 and no later than November 1
of the calendar year prior to that for which a license is sought for
completed applications for the next calendar year's license.
A.
Upon verification of the application for a mobile vendor license
by the Administrator and the Chief of Police, and upon such other
investigation as necessary for the protection of the public good,
and upon payment of the applicable licensing fee, the Clerk may issue
the license.
B.
A license shall not be issued to any person who has been convicted
of a crime, misdemeanor, or other offense involving moral turpitude;
who has made a misrepresentation or false statement in his application;
or who has otherwise been found to be of unsatisfactory character
or business responsibility by the Administrator.
C.
In the event of the refusal of the issuance of such license, the
Mayor and Council, on written request of the applicant, shall conduct
a hearing to determine whether the license should be granted under
this chapter. Such request must be filed with the Borough Clerk no
later than seven days after the rejection of the application.
A.
Should the number of approved applications for a mobile vendor license
exceed the number of licenses permitted, licenses may be issued on
a random basis by virtue of a lottery system, with the available number
of licenses being drawn by the Mayor by lot from the approved applications.
B.
All licenses shall be issued on forms drawn by the Clerk in accordance
with this section. Records of all licenses shall be maintained by
the Clerk in such a manner as to identify the name of the licensee,
the activity licensed, the location of the activity licensed, the
amount of fee paid and the goods, if any, involved. All licenses shall
be issued under the signature of the Borough, or a facsimile thereof,
and the Seal of the Borough.
C.
A record of all current licenses issued shall be kept by the Borough
Clerk and the Police Department.
D.
All licenses issued under this chapter shall authorize only the person
named in said license to engage in the activity designated thereon.
The license shall not be transferable from the person to whom issued
to any other person.
B.
A mobile vendor license may be renewed without formal application or payment of an application fee for a period of one year upon payment of the required license fee, no earlier than October 1 and no later than November 1 of the calendar year prior to that for which a license is sought, and upon completion of a short form renewal application certifying that the information contained in the original application is still true. Renewal shall be subject to the provisions of § 206-9.
A.
Licenses issued under this chapter may be revoked by the Administrator
for any of the following causes:
(1)
Misrepresentation or false statement contained in the application.
(2)
Misrepresentation or false statement made in the course of carrying
on the activities herein.
(3)
Conviction of any crime or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.
(4)
Conducting the licensed business in an unlawful manner in violation
of this chapter or state or federal statutes or regulations, or in
such manner as to cause a breach of the peace, create a nuisance or
constitute a menace to the health, safety or general welfare of the
public.
(5)
A determination, after investigation, that the applicant's moral
character or business responsibility are unsatisfactory.
B.
All persons whose licenses have been revoked shall have the right
of appeal to the Mayor and Council by filing a written request within
seven days to the Borough Clerk for such hearing. The Mayor and Council
shall, within 30 days after receipt of the request, hold a hearing.
At the conclusion of said hearing, the Mayor and Council shall affirm
or set aside the revocation of the license. The decision of the Mayor
and Council on such appeal shall be final and conclusive.
A.
A mobile vendor shall not engage in any activity permitted by this
chapter before the hour of 8:00 a.m. or after the hour of 8:00 p.m.
B.
A mobile vendor may use, for the purpose of displaying or selling
tangible personal property, merchandise or services, a vehicle, cart,
stand, or movable facility or display. The dimensions of said vehicle,
cart, stand, or movable facility or display shall not exceed four
feet in width, six feet in length and eight feet in height including
an umbrella.
C.
A mobile vendor shall not use an umbrella unless the same shall be
attached to a vehicle, cart, stand, or movable facility or display,
nor shall be/she use an umbrella with a diameter or maximum horizontal
dimension greater than 6 1/2 feet.
D.
A mobile vendor shall not use, set up, place, or permit the use of
any table, crate, carton, or structure of any kind to increase the
selling capacity of his vehicle, cart, stand or movable facility or
display.
E.
A mobile vendor shall not stand, park, display, maintain or allow
to be maintained any vehicle, cart, stand, or movable facility or
display for the purpose of displaying or selling tangible personal
property, merchandise, or services in violation of any Borough ordinance
or within 25 feet of an intersection.
F.
A mobile vendor shall not stand, park, display, maintain or allow
to be maintained any vehicle, cart, stand, or movable facility or
display for the purpose of displaying or selling tangible personal
property, merchandise or services within 10 feet of any location where
the curb has been depressed to facilitate pedestrian or vehicle movement.
G.
A mobile vendor shall not stand, park, display, maintain or allow
to be maintained any vehicle, cart, stand or movable facility for
the purpose of displaying or selling tangible personal property, merchandise
or services within 15 feet of any fire hydrant, crosswalk or driveway.
H.
A mobile vendor shall not stand, park, display, maintain or allow
to be maintained any vehicle, cart, stand, or movable facility or
display for the purpose of displaying or selling tangible personal
property, merchandise or services within a fifteen-foot radius from
the entrance to any building, store, theater, library, school, museum,
movie house, sports arena, or other place of public assembly.
I.
A mobile vendor shall not stand, park, display, maintain or allow
to be maintained any vehicle, cart, stand, or movable facility or
display for the purpose of displaying or selling tangible personal
property, merchandise or services within that area adjacent to and
extending directly out from the entrance of any above-referenced structures
to the public street.
J.
A mobile vendor shall not stand or park a vehicle, cart, stand, or
movable facility or display upon any public street or sidewalk, for
the purpose of displaying or selling tangible personal property, merchandise
or services, in such a way as would:
K.
A mobile vendor shall not stand, park, display, maintain or allow
to be maintained any vehicle, cart, stand, or movable facility or
display for the purpose of displaying or selling tangible personal
property, merchandise or services in violation of Title 39 of N.J.S.A.
or the ordinances of the Borough of Chester.
L.
A mobile vendor shall not shout, cry out, blow a horn, ring a bell
or use any sound device or sound-amplifying system upon any of the
streets, alleys, parks, or other public or private places within the
Borough or in any area contiguous to the Borough whereby a public
nuisance shall be created in the Borough.
M.
A mobile vendor shall not have any exclusive right to any one place
upon any sidewalk or any street and shall not be permitted to operate
in a congested area where vendor operation may impede or inconvenience
the public. For the purpose of this chapter, the judgment of the police
officer exercised in good faith shall be deemed conclusive as to whether
the area is congested or the public impeded or inconvenienced.
N.
Signs must be imprinted on or permanently attached to a cart and
may not exceed four square feet of total signage.
O.
A license issued under this section or under N.J.S.A. 45:24-9 and
45:24-10 shall be posted in public view on the vendor's vehicle,
cart, stand or movable facility and shall be exhibited to any police
officer or to any official of the Borough, upon request, and to any
person solicited, prior to such solicitation.
Q.
Nothing herein stated shall be construed to exempt any person from
complying with the zoning requirements.
A.
A mobile vendor shall not sell any foods, beverages, ice cream, confections
or related commodities without obtaining a valid food handler's
permit issued by the Chester Borough Board of Health.
B.
The equipment used or employed by any mobile vendor in the sale of
ice cream, foods, beverages, confections and other related commodities
shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner and be subject
to inspection by the Board of Health or its authorized agents in accordance
with the provisions of this chapter and the ordinances of the Board
of Health of the Borough of Chester. Any violation found and not immediately
corrected shall be grounds for revocation of the license.
No mobile vendor shall issue to any individual, organization,
or entity who shall directly or indirectly exclude, withhold or deny
any person of any advantage, privilege, membership, or right, or otherwise
discriminate against said person on account of race, creed, color,
national origin, ancestry, marital status, or sex or otherwise as
prohibited by law; nor shall the Borough Clerk or his agent refuse
to issue a license on account of race, creed, color, national origin,
ancestry, marital status, or sex or otherwise as prohibited by law.
The following shall be exempt from all provisions hereof, except §§ 206-1, 206-2, 206-4, 206-5, 206-7, 206-8 and 206-9 with relation to violation of applicable sections hereof, violation of which shall be unlawful:
A.
Federal census takers and polls or surveys taken pursuant to federal,
state or local laws.
B.
Any veteran or volunteer fireman who holds a special license issued
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:24-9 and 45:24-10; provided, however, such
licensee shall notify, in writing, the Chief of Police of the Borough,
prior to any soliciting within the Borough, the dates and approximate
area in which such licensee intends to solicit. Such notification
shall also include the licensee's license number, date issued
and county where issued.
C.
Nonprofit organizations.
(1)
Any nonprofit, religious, charitable, civic or veteran organization,
service or club, or volunteer fire or first-aid company, that is located
in, has a substantial membership from, or provides substantial service
to the Borough or its inhabitants, soliciting, in its name or for
a bona fide not-for-profit purpose, money, donations, or financial
assistance of any kind or selling or distributing any item of literature
or merchandise for which a fee is charged and which sale or distribution
does not constitute a special event or market, as defined in this
Code; provided, however, that that organization, service, club or
volunteer fire or first-aid company procures from the Borough Clerk
a special permit by submitting to the Borough Clerk an application
containing:
(a)
Name and address of organization;
(b)
Purpose for which the special permit is requested;
(c)
Names and addresses of the officers and directors of the organization;
(d)
Period and place during which solicitation is to be carried
on; and
(e)
Name, address and position in the nonprofit organization of
the person making the application.
(2)
Upon being satisfied that such person, organization or association
is bona fide, the Borough Clerk shall issue a special permit and identification
cards, without charge, for the specified period.
D.
Any person engaged in any activity the purpose of which is to aid
or promote the nomination, election, or defeat of any candidate or
candidates for political office, or to aid or promote the passage
or defeat of the public question in any election, or which seeks to
influence the content, introduction, passage or defeat of any legislation.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be liable to the penalties stated in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article III, General Penalty, which in no event shall be less than $500, and, upon conviction, shall forfeit such license issued hereunder and the right to renew such a license and shall be ineligible for the issuance of a license hereunder for a period of one year from the date of conviction.
A.
All licenses issued prior to the adoption of this chapter shall not
be affected by this chapter, but all subsequent license applications
must comply with all the provisions of the chapter.
B.
All persons not required to be licensed previously but who are required
by this chapter to apply for a license must obtain a license upon
its adoption.
