(a)
Consent of owner and registration required; registration information.
1.
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business as a canvasser or solicitor calling at residences without the previous consent of the occupant, for the purpose of soliciting orders, sales, subscriptions or business of any kind or seeking information or donations, without first having registered with the Mayor or with such board or officer designated by the Mayor.
2.
The registrant shall give:
a.
His/Her complete identification;
b.
His/Her signature;
c.
The name of his/her employer;
d.
The nature of the products or services in which he is interested;
[Amended 6-20-2016 by Ord. No. 16-095]
e.
The names of the manufacturers of such products or the organization which he is representing;
[Amended 6-20-2016 by Ord. No. 16-095]
f.
The proposed method of operation in the Town.
(b) SOLICITOR OR CANVASSER
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any person who, for himself or another person, firm or corporation, travels by foot, automobile or any other type of conveyance from place to place, from house to house or from street to street taking or attempting to lease or to take orders for retail sale of goods, wares, merchandise, services or donations, including without limitation selling, distributing, exposing for sale or soliciting orders for magazines, books, periodicals or other articles of a commercial nature, the contracting of all home improvements or for services to be performed in the future, whether or not such individual has, carries or exposes for retail sale a sample of the subject of such sale or whether he is collecting advance payment on such retail sales.
(c)
Exceptions. This section should not be construed to prevent route salesmen or other persons having established customers to whom they make periodic deliveries from calling upon such customers.
(d)
Registration fee. Each registrant shall pay to the board or officer as designated by the Mayor a registration fee as established by said board or officer in accordance with § 5-305 of these ordinances for a period expiring one year from the date of said registration.
(e)
Issuance of certificate; nighttime solicitation; carrying and display of certificate.
1.
Each applicant who shows evidence of good character and pays the fee provided for herein shall be furnished a certificate indicating that he has registered and showing the dates covered by such registration, said certificate also bearing the registrant's signature.
[Amended 6-20-2016 by Ord. No. 16-095]
2.
Such registration certificate shall expressly require and be issued only upon the condition that each person who intends to solicit or canvass in the Town after the hour of 6:00 p.m. shall, on every such day, inform the Weymouth Police Department of the streets or neighborhood in which the intended solicitation or canvassing is to occur.
3.
Each person shall, at all times while soliciting or canvassing in the Town, carry upon his person the registration certificate, and the same shall be exhibited by such registrant whenever he is required to do so by any police officer or by any person solicited.
(f)
Nonapplicability. The provisions of this section shall not apply to officers or employees of the Town, county, state or federal government, or any subdivision thereof, when on official business, or to a person soliciting solely for religious, charitable or political purposes; nor shall this section apply to neighborhood youth and students who solicit for the shoveling of snow or cutting of lawns.
(g)
Revocation of registration. Any such registration may be revoked by the Mayor or the Chief of Police because of any violation by the registrant of this section or of any other ordinance of the Town or any state or federal law or whenever the registrant shall cease to possess the qualifications and character required in this section for the original registration.
(h)
Misrepresentation prohibited. No solicitor or canvasser licensed or exempted from license may use any plan, scheme or ruse which misrepresents the true status or mission of the person making the call in order to gain admission to a prospective buyer's home, office or other establishment with the purpose of making a sale of consumer goods or services.
(i)
Penalties. Any person who commits an unlawful act, described in this section, or violates any of the provisions of this section or carries on the business after such person's registration is revoked shall be punished for each offense by a fine of not more than $300 per offense.