[Adopted 5-7-1959 by Ord. No. 1592 (Art. 305 of the 1965 Codified Ordinances)]
The following words and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
PEDDLER
Any person who is engaged in selling or offering for sale, goods, wares, merchandise and/or services, without having been requested or invited to do so by the owner or occupant thereof, at any place within the City, other than on premises which such person occupies as owner or lessee or as agent of the owner or lessee.
PERSON
Any natural person, association, partnership, business, trust, firm or corporation.
SOLICITOR
Any person who is engaged in soliciting orders for goods, wares, merchandise and/or services, without having been requested or invited to do so by the owner or occupant thereof, at any place within the City, other than on premises which such person occupies as owner or lessee or as agent of the owner or lessee.
[Amended 9-16-1964 by Ord. No. 1829]
A. 
No person shall engage in the business of peddler or solicitor within the City without first obtaining a license to do so as herein provided.
B. 
This article shall not apply to the following persons:
(1) 
Any farmer upon his sales of his own produce in or about the streets of the City;
(2) 
Insurance companies or their agents or insurance brokers authorized to transact business under the laws of the state;
(3) 
Persons taking orders for merchandise by sample from dealers or merchants for individuals or companies who pay a license or mercantile tax at their chief places of business;
(4) 
Persons soliciting for charitable or religious purposes; and
(5) 
Persons distributing by vehicle on a regular route any meat, milk or bakery products.
[Amended 7-14-2004 by Ord. No. 4527]
An application for a license under this article must be filed with the City License Officer, setting forth the following information and containing the following requirements:
A. 
Name and address of applicant.
B. 
Description and license number or other means of identification of any vehicle which the applicant expects to use while peddling or soliciting.
C. 
The kind of goods and/or services which the applicant proposes to sell or solicit orders for.
D. 
The length of time during which the applicant proposes to engage in peddling or soliciting.
E. 
Two photographs of the applicant at least two inches square.
F. 
A full set of the applicant's fingerprints, taken by a member of the Bureau of Police.
G. 
The applicant's previous record of convictions or criminal offenses, if any.
H. 
The name of the person by whom the applicant is employed, if any.
I. 
The application shall be sworn to before a notary public or some other officer authorized to take affidavits within the state.
J. 
The application shall be accompanied by a fee as hereinafter set forth.
The fees for licenses issued hereunder shall be as follows:
A. 
Solicitors and peddlers operating on foot shall pay a fee as specified in Chapter 285, Fees. No license shall be issued for a period of less than three months.
B. 
Solicitors and peddlers operating with a vehicle shall pay a fee as specified in Chapter 285, Fees. No license shall be issued for a period of less than three months.
Upon receipt of an application properly prepared, executed and sworn to, and accompanied by the appropriate license fee as herein specified, the City License Officer shall issue a license containing the applicant's photograph and the information set forth in the application, with the exception of the information relating to the applicant's fingerprints and his previous criminal record. The license shall also contain, in bold-face type, the following statement: "The City of Easton does not endorse any products whatsoever. If you are annoyed or offended in any way, phone Police Headquarters."
Every licensee hereunder shall at all times when engaged in peddling or soliciting in the City carry such license upon his person and shall exhibit such license, upon request, to all police officers, City officials and citizens. No licensee hereunder shall engage in peddling or soliciting orders for goods, wares, merchandise and/or services not mentioned upon such license, nor shall any person having a license to operate on foot operate from or with a vehicle.
No licensee hereunder shall engage in peddling or soliciting by foot or from door to door at any time on a Sunday or upon any other day of the week before 9:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m., prevailing time.
No licensee hereunder shall hawk or cry his wares upon any of the streets or sidewalks of the City, nor shall he use any loudspeaker or horn or any other device for announcing his presence.
No licensee hereunder shall park any vehicle upon any of the streets or alleys of the City in order to sort, rearrange or clean any of his goods, wares or merchandise; nor may any such licensee place or deposit any refuse upon any of such streets or alleys; nor may any such licensee maintain or keep a street or curbstone market by parking any vehicle upon any street or alley in the City for longer than is necessary to sell therefrom to persons residing in the immediate vicinity.
No licensee hereunder shall occupy any fixed location upon any of the streets, alleys or sidewalks of the City for the purpose of peddling or soliciting, with or without any stand or counter.
A. 
The Chief of Police is authorized to suspend any license issued hereunder when he deems such suspension to be necessary for the protection of the public health, safety or morals, or for violation of any of the provisions of this article, or for giving false information upon any application for a license hereunder.
B. 
Any person aggrieved by any such suspension may file an appeal thereof, in writing, with the Mayor within 10 days of such suspension, whereupon the Mayor shall fix a time and place for the hearing of the appeal, which time shall be not later than three days from the receipt of the appeal. Council shall sit as a board to hear the aforesaid appeals, and the decision of the board shall be final.
[Amended 10-22-1964 by Ord. No. 1842]
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $300 and, in default of payment of fine and costs, imprisoned not more than 90 days.