[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Town of Elsmere 7-28-1952 by Ord. No. 47; amended in its entirety 1-14-2010 by Ord. No. 512. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The following definitions shall apply to this chapter:
Any person that files an application for a solicitation permit
provided by this chapter.
Includes the words "patriotic," "philanthropic," "social
services," "welfare," "benevolent," "educational," "civic" or "fraternal,"
either actual or purported.
Any benevolent, philanthropic, patriotic, or eleemosynary
entity or one purporting to be such for solicitation and collection
of funds for charitable purposes, including any local, county, or
area division within this state of such charitable organization.
Solicitation engaged in or for a charitable purpose.
The means of or relating to the carrying on of a business
for profit.
Solicitation engaged in or for a commercial purpose.
The promise or grant of any money or property of any kind
or value, including the promise to payor to give anything of value
including, but not necessarily limited to, alms, food, clothing, money,
subscription, property or donations under the guise of a loan of money
or property, financial assistance or other thing of value.
A list of names and addresses of individuals in the Town
of Elsmere who have requested in writing the placement of their residences
on a list of people who do not want to be solicited at their residences,
which list shall be maintained and published for purposes of informing
the general public of the individuals' intention.
Any individual, firm, co-partnership, partnership, corporation,
company, association, church, religious sect, religious denomination,
society, organization, league, trust or any combination of the foregoing.
Solicitation engaged in for the purpose of lobbying, campaigning,
promoting, advancing, espousing or benefiting a political cause, party
or candidate for political office.
All separately addressed places of business, residences or
other locations in which persons live, work or otherwise occupy in
the Town.
The means of or relating to an organized religion or religious
group or identifiable and definable set of religious beliefs or other
ideology.
Solicitation engaged in or for a religious purpose.
Every separate living unit occupied for residential purposes
by one or more persons, contained within any type of building or structure.
Communicating with another person without invitation for
a specific commercial, charitable, religious, political or other purpose
by means of:
A person who engages in solicitation as defined in this chapter.
The corporate boundaries of the Town of Elsmere, Delaware.
A.
No persons not currently located and licensed to conduct business
with the corporate limit of the Town of Elsmere shall enter the Town
for the purpose of selling or taking orders for the sale of goods,
wares or merchandise, or soliciting contributions without first registering
with the Code Enforcement Office of the Town and obtaining a solicitation
permit and registration card. Additionally, all persons before entering
in or upon a private residence for the purpose of selling or taking
orders for the sale of goods, wares or merchandise, or soliciting
contributions, are hereby required to register at the Town Office
of Elsmere and on forms provided by the Town furnish the following
information:
(1)
The full name as it appears on a driver's license, state ID
or birth certificate, birth date, mailing address and telephone number
of the individual person who will be engaged in the proposed solicitation;
(2)
The present address and address of places of residence during the
past three years, if other than present address;
(3)
The age of applicant and marital status; if married, the name of
spouse;
(4)
A physical description of the applicant, including sex, height, weight,
hair color and eye color;
(5)
The name, address and telephone number of the person, firm, corporation
or association by whom or on behalf of whom the applicant is employed,
sponsored, promoting or conducting the proposed solicitation and the
length of time of such employment or association;
(6)
The name and address of present employer and of all employer(s) during
the past three years, if other than the present employer;
(7)
The nature of the business or activities conducted by the person
or organization on whose behalf the proposed solicitation will be
conducted;
(8)
A description of the nature and purpose of the proposed solicitation;
(9)
Period of time for which the permit is applied, including the beginning
date, hours and expected duration of the proposed solicitation;
(10)
The date or approximate date of the latest previous application
for permit under this chapter, if any;
(11)
Whether a solicitation permit issued to the applicant under
this chapter or by any other issuing agency has ever been revoked;
(12)
Whether the applicant ever been convicted of a violation of
any of the provisions of this chapter or the ordinance or laws of
any other state or municipality regulating solicitation;
(13)
Whether the applicant has ever been convicted of the commission
of a felony and/or any crime involving theft or dishonesty under the
laws of this state or any other state or federal law of the United
States;
(14)
The full name, mailing address and telephone number of at least
one reputable person, not related to, affiliated with, or employed
by the person who will be engaged in the proposed solicitation;
(15)
If more than one solicitor will be soliciting on behalf of a
person or organization, then the name(s), address(es), and telephone
number(s) of the person(s) who will be in direct charge of the solicitors
on behalf of the person or organization;
(16)
Such additional information and any documentation as the Code
Enforcement Office may deem necessary to process the application.
B.
Exemptions. Persons engaging in the following activities shall be
exempt from the above registration requirement:
(1)
Charitable solicitation, including solicitation for the benefit of
a local elementary, junior high, or high school or for the benefit
of a local community organization, such as scouts and little leagues,
and solicitation for the benefit of a local nonprofit organization
established for the benefit of the community, community schools, community
projects, and for other similar purposes;
(2)
Political solicitation;
(3)
Religious solicitation;
(4)
The distribution of handbills, flyers, brochures, pamphlets, leaflets,
papers, and other literature and written materials, shall be exempt
from the registration requirement;
A.
Application.
(1)
Every person required to obtain a solicitation permit shall make
a written application for such permit, pay the permit fee and obtain
the permit prior to engaging in solicitation within the Town.
(2)
Application for the solicitation permit shall be made on the form
provided by the Town and shall be submitted to the Code Enforcement
Office 10 days prior to the date on which the solicitation is to begin
and shall be accompanied by the proper documentation necessary to
complete the application. The applicant shall truthfully state in
full the following information requested on the application:[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
(3)
A fee of $25 shall be charged for every solicitation permit application
to cover the cost of processing the application.
B.
Exemption. Persons engaging in the following activities shall be
exempt from the solicitation permit requirement:
(1)
Charitable solicitation, including solicitation for the benefit of
a local elementary, junior high, or high school or for the benefit
of a local community organization, such as scouts and little leagues,
and solicitation for the benefit of a local nonprofit organization
established for the benefit of the community, community schools, community
projects, and for other similar purposes;
(2)
Political solicitation;
(3)
Religious solicitation;
(4)
The distribution of handbills, flyers, brochures, pamphlets, leaflets,
papers, and other literature and written materials, shall be exempt
from the permit requirement;
A.
A permit for solicitation shall be obtained by a sponsoring person,
company or organization for the conduct of any solicitation taking
place upon any public street in the Town, and copies of the permit
issued for such solicitation shall be issued to and worn by each person
participating in such solicitation upon any public street in the Town.
B.
Except for Subsections C and G hereunder, this section shall not apply to persons engaging in the following activities:
(1)
Charitable solicitation, including solicitation for the benefit of
a local elementary, junior high, or high school or for the benefit
of a local community organization, such as scouts and little leagues,
and solicitation for the benefit of a local nonprofit organization
established for the benefit of the community, community schools, community
projects, and for other similar purposes;
(2)
Political solicitation;
(3)
Religious solicitation;
(4)
The distribution of handbills, flyers, brochures, pamphlets, leaflets,
papers, and other literature and written materials, shall be exempt
from the public streets solicitation permit requirement;
C.
No solicitation shall be conducted on any public street in the Town
between the times from one hour before sundown to one hour after sunrise.
D.
By applying for, and as a condition to the issuance of, a permit
pursuant to this section, a sponsor accepts liability, and agrees
to hold harmless and indemnify the Town for any injuries to any person
or property occurring during the solicitation that is causally related
to an act of ordinary negligence of the persons soliciting on behalf
of the sponsor, and the sponsor shall be responsible for supervising
and controlling the conduct of all persons soliciting under the sponsor's
permit.
E.
The sponsor shall carry and provide proof of general liability insurance.
F.
Persons soliciting on the public streets and sidewalks in the Town
pursuant to a permit granted under this section shall wear a badge
or other easily readable form of identification that identifies the
name of the sponsor and the name of the individual that is clearly
visible at all times.
G.
Persons soliciting on the public streets and sidewalks in the Town
shall:
H.
Permit applications shall be reviewed by the Chief of Police and
shall be submitted in a time period which is sufficient enough to
allow the Chief or their designee to review the plans for the event
and issue an opinion as to rather or not a permit should be issued
based upon safety.
I.
The Chief of Police may recommend the approval of applications that
are in compliance with the requirements of this chapter. Additionally,
the Chief of Police is hereby given the authority to withhold or to
suspend all permits for solicitation on any public streets within
the Town due to weather or other conditions or circumstances that
pose a potential threat to public health, safety or welfare hazard
to the solicitors, motorists or general public until such time as
the hazard no longer exists.
A.
If the Code Enforcement Officer or Chief of Police determines that
the applicant has not provided all of the information and documentation
required by this chapter, or has failed to meet the terms and conditions
of a solicitation permit set forth in this chapter, then the Code
Enforcement Officer or Chief of Police shall deny the issuance of
the solicitation permit and shall give the applicant written notice
and explanation of such denial.
B.
Any person who provides all of the requested information and documentation
and complies with the permit terms and conditions shall be issued
a permit.
C.
No permit shall be denied based on the content of any written publication
in violation of the First Amendment freedoms of speech, religion,
and the press or upon the basis of any other discriminatory factor
including but not limited to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation
or age.
D.
Any notice of denial shall be delivered in person or by first class
U.S. mail addressed to the applicant's current residence address
as set forth in the application. The applicant may appeal the denial
of a solicitation permit pursuant to this section.
A.
Any solicitation permit issued may be revoked by the Code Enforcement
Officer or the Chief of Police if the person engaged in solicitation
is convicted of a violation of any of the sections in this chapter,
or has refused to leave any premises when asked to do so, has made
a false statement in the application, or becomes disqualified for
the issuance of a solicitation permit under the provisions of this
chapter.
B.
Immediately after the revocation, the Code Enforcement Officer or
the Chief of Police shall give the person written notice in person
or by first class U.S. mail, return receipt requested, addressed to
his or her residence address set forth in the application. The permit
shall become null and void immediately on service of the notice of
revocation. Receipt of a revocation notice sent by mail shall be deemed
given when the recipient signs or refuses to sign the return card
or otherwise fails to claim the notice within the time allowed by
the U.S. Postal Office.
A.
Any person desiring to contest the denial or revocation of a solicitation
permit shall have a right to appeal such decision to the Town Manager
as provided in this section within 14 days after receipt of the notice
of denial or revocation by providing to the Town Manager written notice
requesting an appeal hearing.
B.
The Town Manager, after receipt of the written request for a hearing,
shall set a time and date for such hearing which shall be within 30
days.
C.
The Town Manager shall give written notice of the time, date and
place for hearing to the applicant or permit holder at least five
days in advance of the hearing date.
D.
At the hearing, the applicant or permit holder may present and submit
evidence and witnesses to rebut the reasons cited for revoking or
denying the permit. The appealing party shall have the right to file
additional documents, amend the written appeal and appear at such
hearing in person, be represented by an attorney and examine and cross-examine
witnesses.
E.
The Town Manager shall not be bound by the rules of evidence or procedures
followed in state courts but shall take into account all reliable,
probative and substantial evidence produced at the hearing relating
to the denial of the application or revocation of the permit.
F.
The appealing party may supply at his or her own cost a court reporter.
G.
Within 10 days after the close of the hearing, the Town Manager shall
render a decision in writing and make it available to the appealing
party.
H.
The Town Manager may reinstate a revoked permit, grant the requested
permit or renewal thereof, or affirm the decision to revoke or deny
a permit.
I.
The decision of the Town Manager shall be final.
J.
The appealing party may waive an appeal hearing and submit what documentation
he or she desires to have the Town Manager consider as a written appeal.
The Town Manager shall render a decision within 14 days of the filing
of a written appeal.
K.
Should the Town Manager find that a conflict of interest exists which
prohibits him from conducting the appeal, he may appoint a designee
to hear the appeal.
A.
Each solicitation permit issued shall be valid for a period of time
set by Code Enforcement Officer but shall not to exceed 60 consecutive
calendar days. The expiration date shall be printed and visible on
the face of the solicitation permit.
B.
Each registration permit shall be valid for a period of one year,
the expiration date of which registration identification shall be
printed and visible on the face of the registration identification.
Upon the expiration of a solicitation permit, the person shall
be entitled to renew the permit for an additional sixty-day period,
provided that the application for renewal continues to satisfy all
conditions and requirements necessary to obtain an original permit
and provided that all relevant information and documentation is updated
and provided to the Code Enforcement Officer.
A.
Any owner, lessee, invitee or lawful occupant of a residence may
prohibit solicitation by posting prominently on the front door or
primary door to the residence, a sign that clearly states "No Solicitation"
or "No Soliciting" or words of similar meaning. Whenever any person
engaging in solicitation, whether having a solicitation permit or
not, encounters such a sign as described above, such person shall
not engage in solicitation at such residence and shall immediately
and peacefully depart from the premises.
B.
When any solicitor has gained an audience with the owner, lessee, invitee or occupant of a residence, whether the residence is posted pursuant to Subsection A above or not, the solicitor shall immediately and peacefully depart from the premises when requested to do so by any owner, lessee, invitee or occupant.
C.
The Code Enforcement Office or the department of Public Safety of
the Town shall maintain and publish a current do-not-solicit list
on the Town website and make it available in hard copy upon request.
No solicitor shall attempt to solicit on property that is included
on the do-not-solicit list.
D.
Except as provided below, it is declared unlawful and shall constitute
a nuisance and a trespass:
(2)
For any person to leave paper or other solicitation materials on
property where the same or similar materials have been previously
left and have not been picked up by the owner or occupant of the property.
(3)
For any person to remain on the premises or fail to depart peacefully
from the premises immediately upon being requested to do so by the
occupant.
E.
The provisions in this section prohibiting trespassing shall apply
to any and all persons engaging in solicitation within the Town regardless
of whether such persons are exempt from the requirement to obtain
a solicitation permit or not.
A.
Identification. Every solicitor who is required to obtain a solicitation
permit shall display the permit, or other authorized form of identification,
so that every person being solicited shall have an unobstructed view
of the permit.
B.
Fraud or misrepresentation.
(1)
No person shall perpetrate a fraud or misrepresentation of any kind
while engaged in solicitation within the Town. No person engaged in
solicitation shall employ any ruse, plan or scheme, or make any assertion,
representation or statement of fact which misrepresents the purpose
of the solicitation. It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in
solicitation to represent that goods or services have sponsorship,
approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits or qualities
that they do not have or that a person has sponsorship, approval,
status, qualification, affiliation or connection with an individual,
organization, firm or corporation that he or she does not have.
(2)
It shall be unlawful for a person engaged in solicitation to represent
that goods are original or new if they are deteriorated, altered,
reconditioned, reclaimed, used or secondhand.
C.
Public health and safety. No person shall engage in solicitation
within the Town in such a manner that creates a danger or threat of
any kind to the public health, safety and welfare.
D.
Persons engaged in solicitation within the Town shall have a nonexclusive
right to use the sidewalks, streets and other public property within
the Town, but no person engaged in solicitation shall establish a
permanent, stationary location for such solicitation, nor shall any
person engaged in solicitation block or interfere with the ability
of the public to enter upon, travel across or use any sidewalk, street
or other public property.
E.
No person engaged in solicitation shall use abusive, vulgar, obscene
or offensive language while engaged in solicitation within the Town.
F.
No person engaged in solicitation shall threaten to use force, use
force or otherwise coerce a person being solicited within the Town.
G.
No person engaged in solicitation shall use any sound- or voice-amplification
system or any other device which causes loud or disturbing noises.
H.
Display of permit/registration. A solicitation permit card shall
be approximately two inches by four inches and containing the name
and address of the soliciting company, organization or association
and the product being solicited, the name and address of the solicitor,
the effective dates of the permit, in an easy readable form shall
be visibly displayed by each person subject to the engaged in a soliciting.
I.
Change of information. During the application process for, or during
the term of, any solicitation permit, the applicant or permit holder
shall promptly notify the Code Enforcement Office in writing of any
change in any material information given by the applicant or permit
holder in the application for such permit.
J.
Any person who solicits or distributes materials in the Town, whether
directly or indirectly through the use of an agent, shall be responsible
for complying with the terms of this chapter and shall also be liable
for a violation of the terms of this chapter, whether the violation
is committed directly or indirectly by an agent or employee.
K.
Any person who hires or employs an employee or agent to solicit on
their behalf shall be vicariously liable for the acts of the employee
or agent. Whenever any employee or agent violates the terms of this
chapter, the person who employs the employee or agent shall also be
responsible for such violation and subject to the appropriate penalties.
[Amended 9-10-2015 by Ord. No. 600]
Any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall, upon
conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than
$200 or imprisonment for such a period not to exceed 90 days, or by
both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.
A.
The fee associated with the issuance of a solicitation permit which
will be valid for a period of time which is less than seven calendar
days shall be $50 per day.
B.
The fee associated with the issuance of a solicitation permit which
will be valid for a period of time which is more than seven calendar
days shall be $700.
C.
The fee associated with the issuance of a solicitation permit for
any person or group who is not in any manner selling or attempting
to sell any good, wares or merchandise and who is not attempting to
solicit contributions shall be $25, regardless of the period of time
for which the registration card is valid.
