[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Kent 10-1-1962. Amendments noted where applicable.]
For the purpose of this chapter, the terms used
herein are defined as follows:
Any person, either principal or agent, who, from a boat or
a car or from any vehicle, in any public place, or by going from house
to house on foot or on or from an animal or vehicle, sells or barters
or offers for sale or barter or carries or exposes for sale or barter
any goods, wares or merchandise.
One or more persons of either sex, natural persons, corporations,
partnerships, associations and all entities of any kind capable of
doing business.
Any person who goes from place to place or house to house
or who stands in any street or public place taking or offering to
take orders for goods, wares or merchandise, including the sale of
newspaper or magazine subscriptions.
[Amended 3-26-1973]
Any car, truck, wagon, cart or other means of transportation
of persons or commodities or of locomotion.
[Amended 2-4-1991 by L.L. No. 1-1991]
No person shall hawk, peddle or solicit or travel
through the Town of Kent for the purpose of hawking, peddling or soliciting
within the Town goods, wares, merchandise or other articles of commerce
without a license as a peddler granted by the Town Clerk. No person
shall hawk, peddle or solicit fish, meats, fruits, farm products or
farm produce or other unprocessed food products within the Town of
Kent, except peddlers of fish, meats, fruits, farm products or farm
produce and other unprocessed foods peddled by persons, or their servants
or employees, who have produced the commodities which they sell in
any part of the Town of Kent.
[Added 3-26-1973]
Every applicant for a license under this chapter
shall file with the Town Clerk a sworn written application, in duplicate,
on a form to be furnished by said Clerk, which shall give the following
information:
A.Â
The name and a description of the applicant.
B.Â
The permanent home address and full local address
of the applicant.
C.Â
A brief statement of the nature of the business and
a description of the merchandise or service to be sold.
D.Â
If employed, the name and address of the employer,
together with credentials establishing the exact relationship.
E.Â
The length of time for which the license is desired.
F.Â
If a vehicle is to be used, a description of such
vehicle and its license number.
G.Â
The place where the goods or property to be sold or
offered for sale are manufactured or produced, where such goods or
property are located at the time such application is filed and the
proposed method of delivery.
H.Â
A photograph of the applicant taken within 60 days
immediately prior to the date of the application, which photograph
shall clearly show the head and shoulders of the applicant and shall
measure two by two inches.
I.Â
Two business references located in the County of Putnam,
State of New York, or, in lieu thereof, such other available evidence
of the character and business responsibility of the applicant as will
enable an investigator to properly evaluate such character and responsibility.
J.Â
A statement as to whether the applicant has been convicted
of any crime, misdemeanor or violation of any municipal ordinance,
the nature of the offense and the punishment or penalty assessed therefor.
At the time application is filed, a fee as set
from time to time by resolution of the Town Board[2] shall be paid to the Town Clerk to cover the cost of processing
the application and investigating the facts stated therein.
[Amended 3-26-1973; 12-3-1984 by L.L. No. 4-1984]
The Town Clerk shall, upon payment of the fees
and upon the filing of the application as provided in this chapter,
grant a license signed by herself or her deputy authorizing the applicant
to trade within this Town as a peddler, hawker or solicitor for a
term of 90 days, such period being deemed to start upon the issuance
of the license. Every such license or licenses issued prior to the
amendment hereof on December 3, 1984, shall be renewed upon the expiration
thereof by the Town Clerk for a ninety-day period upon the terms and
conditions and upon the payment of fees required for a new application
if renewal is applied for. No license issued under this chapter shall
be assignable. All fees are to be paid over by the Town Clerk to the
Town Supervisor and deposited to the credit of the Town of Kent. No
license shall be refused except for a specific reason for the protection
of the public safety, health, morals or general welfare.
[Amended 3-26-1973]
Every person peddling or soliciting within this
Town and having a license in accordance with the provisions of this
chapter shall produce such license and exhibit the same to any officer
or citizen who demands the production of the same. The refusal of
any such person to produce a license when demanded shall be presumptive
evidence that he is traveling and trading without a license.
[Added 3-26-1973]
Peddling, soliciting and canvassing shall be
permitted only between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., except
upon specific invitation or establishment of an appointment by a resident
of the Town of Kent.
A licensed hawker, peddler or solicitor shall:
A.Â
Not stand or permit the vehicle or vehicles used by
him to stand in one public or private place for more than 10 minutes
in any twenty-four-hour period nor in front of any premises for any
period of time if the owner or lessee of the ground floor thereof
objects. Every 10 minutes, the hawker, peddler or solicitor shall
move his wares and vehicle or vehicles at least 500 feet to a new
location. At no time during any twenty-four-hour period shall a hawker,
peddler or solicitor occupy any site within 500 feet of a prior site
occupied during such period.
[Amended 12-3-1984 by L.L. No. 4-1984]
B.Â
Not falsely or fraudulently misrepresent the quantity,
character or quality of any article offered for sale, nor offer for
sale any unwholesome, tainted or diseased provisions or merchandise.
C.Â
Keep the vehicle and receptacle used by him or her
in a clean and sanitary condition and the foodstuffs and edibles offered
for sale well covered and protected from dirt, dust and disease.
D.Â
Not permit any vehicle used to stop or remain on any
crosswalk.
E.Â
Not create or maintain any booth or stand or place
any barrels, boxes, crates or other obstructions upon any street or
public place for the purpose of selling or exposing for sale any goods,
wares or merchandise.
F.Â
Not peddle within 500 feet of any church or place
of worship or any place occupied exclusively as a public or private
school.
[Added 12-3-1984 by L.L. No. 4-1984]
G.Â
Not sell from any point within 500 feet of any place
of business selling substantially similar merchandise.
[Added 12-3-1984 by L.L. No. 4-1984]
H.Â
Not call attention to his goods by any loud or unusual
noise or any animated or electrical sign or signs of any sort in excess
of two by four feet. Only signs permanently attached to the vehicle
or vehicles are permitted.
[Added 12-3-1984 by L.L. No. 4-1984]
[Amended 3-26-1973; 12-3-1984 by L.L. No. 4-1984]
A.Â
The Supervisor may, at any time, for a violation of
this chapter or any other ordinance or law, revoke any license. When
a license shall be revoked, no refund of any portion of the license
fee shall be made. Notice of such revocation and the reason or reasons
therefor, in writing, shall be served by the Supervisor upon the person
named in the application or by mailing the same to the address given
in the application. A copy of such notice shall be filed in the office
of the Town Clerk.
B.Â
Upon revocation of such license, the Supervisor shall
file a notice of such revocation with the Police Department of the
Town of Kent, which Department shall enforce this chapter.
C.Â
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and regardless
of whether the license of a hawker, peddler or solicitor has been
revoked, the Police Department of the Town of Kent shall enforce any
and all provisions of this chapter upon notice, whether by complaint
or not, of any violation thereof.
[Amended 3-26-1973; 12-4-2018 by L.L. No. 3-2018]
A.Â
No part of this chapter shall be enforced so as to
conflict with Article 4, § 32, of the General Business Law
of the State of New York, providing for exemption for veterans.
B.Â
The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to the following,
provided that official uniforms, clothing or other suitable identification
is displayed:
[Amended 3-26-1973; 12-3-1984 by L.L. No. 4-1984]
A.Â
Any person who, himself or by his Clerk, employee,
agent or any person acting in his behalf, shall act as a hawker, peddler
or solicitor, as herein defined, without a license or who shall violate
any of the provisions of this chapter or who, having had his license
revoked, shall continue to act as a hawker, peddler or solicitor shall
be deemed to have committed the act of disorderly conduct and shall,
upon conviction, be punished by a fine of no less than $250 or by
imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both.
