[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Lake Tomahawk
5-11-1988 as §§ 12.04 and 12.10 of the 1988 Code. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Licenses and permits — See Ch. 245.
No direct seller shall engage in direct sales within the Town without
being registered for that purpose as provided herein.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any benevolent, philanthropic, patriotic or eleemosynary person,
partnership, corporation, association or one purporting to be such.
The Town Clerk.
Any individual who, for himself or for a partnership, association
or corporation, sells goods or takes sales orders for the later delivery of
goods at any location other than the permanent business place or residence
of such individual, partnership, association or corporation and shall include,
but not be limited to, peddlers, solicitors and transient merchants. The sale
of goods includes donations required by the direct seller for the retention
of goods by a donor or prospective customer.
Personal property of any kind and shall include goods provided incidental
to services offered or sold.
A direct seller who for at least one year prior to the consideration
of the application of this chapter to such merchant:
The following shall be exempt from all provisions of this chapter:
A.
Any person delivering newspapers, fuel, dairy products
or bakery goods to regular customers on established routes.
B.
Any person selling goods at wholesale to dealers in such
goods.
C.
Any person selling agricultural products which such person
has grown.
D.
Any permanent merchant or employee thereof who takes
orders away from the established place of business for goods regularly offered
for sale by such merchant within the county and who delivers such goods in
their regular course of business.
E.
Any person who has an established place of business where
the goods being sold are offered for sale on a regular basis and in which
the buyer has initiated contact with and specifically requested a home visit
by such person.
F.
Any person who has had or one who represents a company
which had a prior business transaction, such as a prior sale or credit arrangement,
with the prospective customer.
G.
Any person selling or offering for sale a service unconnected
with the sale or offering for sale of goods.
H.
Any person holding a sale required by statute or by order
of any court and any person conducting a bona fide auction sale pursuant to
law.
I.
Any employee, officer or agent of a charitable organization
who engages in direct sales for or on behalf of such organization, provided
that there is submitted to the Town Clerk proof that such charitable organization
is registered under § 440.42, Wis. Stats. Any charitable organization
not registered under § 440.42, Wis. Stats., or which is exempt from
that statute's registration requirements shall be required to register under
this chapter.
J.
Any person who claims to be a permanent merchant, but
against whom complaint has been made to the Town Clerk that such person is
a transient merchant, provided that there is submitted to the Clerk proof
that such person has leased for at least one year or purchased the premises
from which he is conducting business or proof that such person has conducted
such business in the Town for at least one year prior to the date complaint
was made.
A.
Applicants for registration must complete and return
to the Town Clerk a registration form furnished by the Clerk, which shall
require the following information:
(1)
Name, permanent address, telephone number and temporary
address, if any.
(2)
Age, height, weight, color of hair and eyes.
(3)
Name, address and telephone number of the person, firm,
association or corporation that the direct seller represents, is employed
by or whose merchandise is being sold.
(4)
Temporary address and telephone number from which business
will be conducted, if any.
(5)
Nature of business to be conducted and a brief description
of the goods offered and any services offered.
(6)
Proposed method of delivery of goods, if applicable.
(7)
Make, model and license number of any vehicle to be used
by applicant in the conduct of his business.
(8)
Last cities, villages, towns, not to exceed three, where
applicant conducted similar business.
(9)
Place where applicant can be contacted for at least seven
days after leaving this Town.
(10)
Statement as to whether applicant has been convicted
of any crime or ordinance violation related to applicant's transient merchant
business within the last five years, the nature of the offense and the place
of conviction.
B.
Applicants shall present to the Town Clerk for examination:
(1)
A driver's license or some other proof of identity as
may be reasonably required.
(2)
A state certificate of examination and approval from
the Sealer of Weights and Measures where applicant's business requires use
of weighing and measuring devices approved by state authorities.
(3)
A State Health Officer's certificate where applicant's
business involves the handling of food or clothing and is required to be certified
under state law, such certificate to state that applicant is apparently free
from any contagious or infectious disease, dated not more than 90 days prior
to the date the application for license is made.
C.
At the time the registration is returned, a fee as provided in Chapter 245, Licenses and Permits, shall be paid to the Town Clerk to cover the cost of processing such registration.
D.
The applicant shall sign a statement appointing the Town
Clerk his agent to accept service of process in any civil action brought against
him arising out of any sale or service performed by him in connection with
the direct sales activities if the applicant cannot, after reasonable effort,
be served personally.
A.
Upon receipt of each application, the Town Clerk may
refer it immediately to the Police Chief, who may make and complete an investigation
of the statements made in such registration.
B.
The Town Clerk shall refuse to register the applicant
if it is determined, pursuant to the investigation above, that:
(1)
The application contains any material omission or materially
inaccurate statement.
(2)
Complaints of a material nature have been received against
the applicant by authorities in the last cities, villages and towns, not exceeding
three, in which the applicant conducted similar business.
(3)
The applicant was convicted of a crime, statutory violation
or ordinance violation within the last five years, the nature of which is
directly related to the applicant's fitness to engage in direct selling.
Any person denied registration may appeal the denial through the appeal
procedure provided under the provisions of §§ 68.01 through
68.16, Wis. Stats.
A.
Prohibited practices.
(1)
A direct seller shall be prohibited from calling at any
dwelling or other place between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., except
by appointment; calling at any dwelling or other place where a sign is displayed
bearing the words "No Solicitors," "No Peddlers" or words of similar meaning;
calling at the rear door of any dwelling place; or remaining on any premises
after being asked to leave by the owner, occupant or other person having authority
over such premises.
(2)
A direct seller shall not misrepresent or make false,
deceptive or misleading statements concerning the quality, quantity or character
of any goods offered for sale or the purpose of his visit, his identity or
the identity of the organization he represents. A charitable organization
direct seller shall specifically disclose what portion of the sale price of
goods being offered will actually be used for the charitable purpose for which
the organization is soliciting. Such portion shall be expressed as a percentage
of the sale price of the goods.
(3)
No direct seller shall impede the free use of sidewalks
and streets. Where sales are made from vehicles, all traffic and parking regulations
shall be observed.
(4)
No direct seller shall make any loud noises or use any
sound amplifying device to attract customers if the noise produced is capable
of being plainly heard outside a one-hundred-foot radius.
(5)
No direct seller shall allow rubbish or litter to accumulate
in or around the area in which he is conducting business.
B.
Disclosure requirements.
(1)
After the initial greeting and before any other statement
is made to a prospective customer, a direct seller shall expressly disclose
his name; the name of the company or organization he is affiliated with, if
any, and the identity of goods or services he offers for sale.
(2)
If any sale of goods by a direct seller or any sales
order for the later delivery of goods is taken by the seller, the buyer shall
have the right to cancel such transaction if it involves the extension of
credit or is a cash transaction of more than $25 in accordance with the procedure
as set forth in § 423.203, Wis. Stats. The seller shall give the
buyer two copies of a typed or printed notice of that fact. Such notice shall
conform to the requirements of § 423.203(1)(a), (b) and (c), (2)
and (3), Wis. Stats.
(3)
If the direct seller takes a sales order for the later
delivery of goods he shall at the time the order is given provide the buyer
with a written statement containing the terms of the agreement, the amount
paid in advance, whether full, partial or no advance payment is made; the
name, address and telephone number of the seller; the delivery or performance
date; and whether a guarantee or warranty is provided and, if so, the terms
thereof.
The Police Chief shall report to the Town Clerk all convictions for
violation of this chapter and the Clerk shall note any such violation on the
registrant's record.
A.
Registration may be revoked by the Town Board after notice
and hearing, if the registrant made any material omission or materially inaccurate
statement in the application for registration; made any fraudulent, false,
deceptive or misleading statement or representation in the course of engaging
in direct sales; violated any provision of this chapter; or was convicted
of any crime, ordinance or statutory violation which is directly related to
the registrant's fitness to engage in direct selling.
B.
Written notice of the hearing shall be served personally
on the registrant at least 72 hours prior to the time set for the hearing.
Such notice shall contain the time and place of hearing and a statement of
the acts upon which the hearing will be based.
In addition to the revocation or suspension of any registration issued under the provisions of this chapter, any person found to be in violation of any provision of this chapter, except as otherwise provided, shall be subject to a penalty as provided in § 1-4 of this Code.
