As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
TRANSIENT RETAIL BUSINESS
One conducted in a store, hotel, house, building or structure
for the sale and retail of goods, wares or merchandise, except food
products, and which is intended to be conducted for a temporary period
of time and not permanently. If the place in which a business is conducted
is rented or leased for a period of six months or less, or for a period
of six months or more under a lease or agreement giving to the applicant
the option to cancel such lease on 90 days' notice or less, to the
landlord with or without penalty; or for the purpose of the sale to
the public of a particular stock of goods already acquired and on
the premises or for the sale of any particular type or kind of merchandise
to be continued only until public demand for such merchandise is satisfied,
without the intention of establishing a permanent place of business
in the City for the continuing sale to the public of such merchandise,
such fact shall be presumptive evidence that the business carried
on therein is a "transient business."
A tax shall be levied upon all persons now conducting
or who may hereafter conduct a transient retail business in the City
of New Rochelle. Such tax shall be based upon the gross amount of
sales and shall be at the same aggregate rate as other property is
taxed in the City for City, school, county and state purposes. If
the rate for the current year has not been ascertained at the time
the tax herein provided for is to be paid, the same shall be estimated
by the City Clerk.
Every applicant shall file with the City Clerk
an application in writing which shall contain such information as
may be requested by the City Clerk and:
A. The full name and address of each of such persons
and, if a corporation, the state under the laws of which organized,
the exact location of its principal office and place of business and
the names and addresses of its officers.
B. The exact nature and location of business engaged
in by such person or corporation during the five years immediately
preceding the filing of such statement, and in the case of a corporation
organized less than five years, since its organization.
C. The exact location within said City where such transient
retail business is to be conducted.
D. The date on which such person, firm or corporation
intends to begin doing such business within said City.
E. The name and address of the landlord from whom the
premises are rented.
F. A detailed description of the type and kind of goods,
wares and merchandise to be offered for sale to the public, together
with an itemized statement of the cost price to the applicant of such
goods, wares and merchandise.
G. The place where such stock or merchandise was or is
to be purchased, the manner in which the same was or is acquired and
the place where such stock or merchandise was or is to be acquired.
H. The purpose of the business to be conducted, specifying
whether the same is for the sale only of a particular stock of goods,
wares and merchandise already acquired and on the premises or to be
acquired and delivered to the premises for sale to the public; or
whether the same is for the sale of any particular type or kind of
goods, wares or merchandise to be continued only until public demand
for such merchandise is satisfied, stating whether it is the intention
of the applicant to establish a permanent place of business within
the City for the continuing sale to the public of such merchandise.
It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct a transient retail business without obtaining a license therefor from the City Clerk. Said license shall state the place where the business is conducted and the period of time covered by the license. Upon filing the application for a license as a transient or itinerant merchant, the applicant shall pay to the City Clerk a fee as set forth in Chapter
133, Fees.
All licenses issued pursuant to this chapter
shall be issued for a period of six months, said period starting at
any time and terminating six months from the date of issue.
Before any such license is issued, the applicant
shall file with the City Clerk an approved surety bond in an amount
not less than $1,000 for each $5,000 of cost price to the applicant
of the goods, wares and merchandise offered for sale, to be executed
by a bonding company authorized to do business in the State of New
York, which bond shall be conditioned that such applicant will faithfully
comply with all the provisions of this chapter, of the General Municipal
Law in relation to taxation of transient merchants and with all other
provisions of law; and will pay to the City of New Rochelle the amount
of tax, based upon such gross sales, at least weekly, and at the termination
of such business will forthwith pay to the City Clerk the balance
of such tax. Such bond shall be approved by the Corporation Counsel
as to form and execution and by the City Clerk as to its sufficiency.
In lieu of any such surety bond, the applicant may make a cash deposit
with the City Clerk in an amount to be fixed by the City Clerk, which
deposit shall be deemed to be surety to the same extent as said surety
bond.
A landlord shall not deliver possession of any
premises to any person where the lease therefor is for a period of
less than six months or for a period of six months or for a period
of six months or more under a lease or agreement giving the tenant
the option to cancel the said lease or agreement on 90 days' notice
or less to the landlord with or without penalty unless and until such
person has first exhibited to such landlord a license required to
be procured by transient merchants pursuant to this section. If such
person is not an itinerant merchant but his lease is for less than
six months or more than six months under a lease or agreement giving
to the applicant the option to cancel such lease on 90 days' notice
or less, then such person shall deliver to the landlord an affidavit
specifying the facts upon which such tenant bases the claim that such
tenant is not an itinerant merchant.
An offense against the provisions of this chapter
shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $250 or by imprisonment
for not more than 15 days, or both.