[HISTORY: Adopted by Town of Easton as follows: Art. I, by the Special Town Meeting 11-19-1992 by Art. 4 (Art. 9A of the 1922 Bylaws). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Junk dealers and collectors — See Ch. 156.
Precious metals — See Ch. 179.
Yard sales — See Ch. 193.
[Adopted 11-19-1992 STM by Art. 4 (Art. 9A of the 1922 Bylaws)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CHARITABLE
Includes the words patriotic, philanthropic, social service, welfare, benevolent, educational, civic or fraternal, either actual or purported.
CHIEF OF POLICE
The Chief of Police of the Town of Easton.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, copartnership, corporation, company, association or joint-stock association, church, religious sect, religious denomination, society, organization or league, and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, agent or other representative thereof.
RELIGIOUS AND RELIGION
Shall not mean and include the word "charitable" as herein defined, but shall be given its commonly accepted definitions.
SELECT BOARD
The Select Board of the Town of Easton.
[Amended 5-20-2019 ATM by Art. 21]
SOLICITOR
Includes the following:
A. 
Any person of legal majority who, for himself or another person, firm, corporation, group or organization travels by foot, automobile or any type of conveyance from place to place, house to house, or from street to street, taking or attempting to take orders for goods, wares, merchandise, services, or securing or attempting to secure donations.
B. 
Any person requesting directly or indirectly any money, credit, property, financial assistance or anything of value or offering directly or indirectly any money, credit, property, financial assistance or any other thing of value in exchange for goods or service.
C. 
A person who secures money, credit, property, financial assistance or any other thing of value on the plea or representation that it will be used for a charitable or religious purpose or that it is to be exchanged for any goods or services.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in business as a solicitor without first having registered with the Chief of Police.
B. 
The registrant shall file a registration statement with the Chief of Police setting forth the following information:
(1) 
Name, age, date of birth, and social security number of the solicitor.
(2) 
The residential and business address and telephone numbers of the solicitors.
(3) 
The name, address and telephone number of the solicitor's employer.
(4) 
The registration number of any vehicle to be used in conjunction with soliciting activities.
(5) 
The products or purposes for which solicitation is to be undertaken, and the length of time for which the solicitation is planned, but in no event greater than one year.
C. 
Solicitors not covered by MGL c. 101, § 34 shall remit a fee of $25 with their registration statement to cover the cost of administration. Within 10 days of a receipt of such information, the Chief of Police shall issue a registration certificate. Such solicitors shall pay only one twenty-five-dollar fee, regardless of the number of individual persons conducting the solicitation.
A. 
This article 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.
B. 
The provisions of this article shall not apply to local youths or students who solicit for the purpose of household chores or youth activities.
A. 
Each person shall, at all times while soliciting 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.
B. 
No person shall solicit in the Town of Easton before 9:00 a.m. or after sunset.
[Amended 11-4-2013 STM by Art. 3]
Any such registration certificate may be suspended by the issuing authority because of any violation by the registrant of this article or any other bylaw of the town or any state or federal law.
[Amended 5-20-2019 ATM by Art. 21]
The Chief of Police shall notify the Select Board of the suspension or revocation of any certificate issued under this article.
Under this article no solicitor registered 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.
Any person who commits an unlawful act described in this article or violates any of the provisions of this article or carries on the business described in §§ 175-1 and 175-2 after his registration is revoked shall be punished by a fine of $100.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 50, Noncriminal Disposition of Violations.
Each provision of this article shall be deemed independent of all other provisions herein, and it is further the intention of the Town of Easton that if any provision of this article is declared invalid, all other provisions thereof shall remain valid and enforceable.