[HISTORY: Adopted by Board of Commissioners of the Township of Springfield 6-9-2015 by Ord. No. 1556[1]. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Distribution in parks - See Ch. 89.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 62, Handbills, adopted 3-9-1971 by Ord. No. 855, as amended.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated:
COMMERCIAL HANDBILL
Any printed or written matter, leaflet, pamphlet or other printed or otherwise reproduced literature or sample which advertises for sale any merchandise, product, commodity or thing or which directs attention to any business or mercantile establishment or which directs attention to or advertise any meeting, theatrical performance or event of any kind for which an admission fee is charged; and any printed or written matter which, while containing reading matter other than advertising, is predominantly and essentially and advertisement and is distributed or circulated for advertising purposes or for the private benefit and gain of any person so engaged as advertiser or distributor.
NEWSPAPER
Includes any newspaper of general circulation published or distributed for profit, as defined by general law, any newspaper published or distributed for profit, duly entered with the United States Postal Service in accordance with federal statute or regulation; and any newspaper published or distributed for profit, filed and recorded with any recording office as provided by general law; and, in addition thereto, includes any periodical or current magazine regularly published and sold to the public.
NONCOMMERICAL HANDBILL
Includes any printed or written matter, any sample or device, dodger, circular, leaflet, pamphlet, political campaign materials, unsubscribed newspaper or magazine, paper booklet or any other printed or otherwise reproduced original or copies of any matter of literature not included in the aforesaid definitions of a commercial handbill or newspaper.
PRIVATE PREMISES
Any dwelling, house, building or other structure designed or used, either in whole or in part, for private residential purposes, whether inhabited or temporarily or continuously uninhabited or vacant, and shall include any yard, grounds, walk, driveway, porch steps, vestibule or mailbox belonging or appurtenant to such dwelling, house, building or other structure.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to deposit, fasten, place, hang throw, scatter or cast any unsubscribed commercial or noncommercial handbill, sample, or newspaper or cause the same to be done, upon any private premises if requested by anyone thereon not to do so or if a sticker, sign, poster or other device conspicuously lettered "LEAVE NO UNSUBSCRIBED MATERIALS," "NO TRESPASSING," "NO ADVERTISING," "NO SOLICITATION" or any similar notice indicating, in any manner, that the occupants of said premises do not desire to have their right of privacy disturbed or to have any such handbills left upon such premises, is conspicuously posted on the front portion of the main dwelling house of such premises or along the main entrance to such premises.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to deposit, fasten, place, hang throw, scatter or cast any unsubscribed commercial or noncommercial handbill, sample, or newspaper or cause the same to be done, upon any private premises where the resident of said premises requested nondelivery of such unsubscribed commercial or noncommercial handbill, newspaper or sample. Such a request to the firm or corporation, in the capacity of distributor, who caused the distribution of the unsubscribed commercial or noncommercial handbill, newspaper or sample shall be made in writing by certified mail to facilitate proof of notice under this section.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to deposit, fasten, scatter, place, hang, throw or cast any unsubscribed commercial handbill or sample, or cause the same to be done, which does not have conspicuously printed thereon or therein the name and address of the person, firm or corporation who, in the capacity of distributor, caused the same to be distributed.
The provisions of this article shall not be deemed to apply to any newspaper, noncommercial handbill or sample, or to the distribution of mail by the United States Postal Service, or to the distribution of any unsubscribed handbill or sample upon private premises by handing or transmitting any such handbill or sample directly to the owner or the occupant of such premises.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision on this chapter shall, upon summary conviction before any District Justice, pay a fine not exceeding $500 and costs of prosecution; and in default of one payment of the fine and costs, the violator may be sentenced to the county jail for a term of not more than 30 days. Each and every day in which any person, firm or corporation shall be in violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense.
Should any section, sentence, word or provision of this ordinance be declared by a Court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the chapter as a whole.
Any ordinance or part of an ordinance to the extent it is inconsistent herewith is hereby repealed.