[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Newtown 3-13-1958 STM (Ord. No. 13); amended 10-16-1996. Subsequent amendments noted
where applicable.]
All persons who shall vend, sell, hawk, peddle,
or offer for sale any goods, wares, or merchandise at public or private
sale or auction upon the streets or sidewalks or from house to house
shall be deemed vendors, hawkers or peddlers within the meaning of
this chapter.
No person shall carry on the business of a vendor,
hawker or peddler without a license from the First Selectman. The
fee for such license shall be set by the Board of Selectmen, provided
that such fee shall not exceed the amount set by state statute for
each calendar year or portion thereof. The Board of Selectmen may
waive the permit fee for specified nonprofit or charitable organizations.
The First Selectman may prepare, issue and require
the display of such badges, signs or cards as the First Selectman
may deem to be necessary for identification of vendors, hawkers and
peddlers.
[Amended 8-22-2007 by Ord. No. 90]
It shall be the duty of the First Selectman
to keep a record of all licenses granted under the provisions of this
chapter. Such record shall be kept in a database file which shall
contain the number and date of all licenses, the name and residence
of the individuals licensed, the amount of fee paid and the date of
expiration of each license. All receipts for such licenses shall be
paid over to the Financial Director to become a part of the Town of
Newtown General Fund on the first day of each month.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply
to the sales by farmers and gardeners of the produce of their farms,
gardens and greenhouses, or the sale, distribution and delivery of
milk, teas, coffees, spices, groceries, meats and bakery goods, to
the sales on approval, to the conditional sales of merchandise, or
to the taking of orders for merchandise for future delivery when full
payment is not required at the time of solicitation.
A.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions
of this chapter shall be fined in accordance with the state statute
for each offense.
B.
Notwithstanding any language above to the contrary,
the maximum fine for each violation under this chapter shall be $90
or the amount set forth above, whichever is less. Each violation subject
to a fine shall be considered an infraction which, in the discretion
of the issuing violation, may be enforceable by citation. The fine(s)
imposed shall be payable to the Town of Newtown. Any individual fined
for a violation of this chapter may appeal that fine to the Town Hearing
Officer following the procedures set forth in the ordinance authorizing
said officer and herein setting forth the appeals process.
[Added 9-17-2003]
[Added 9-17-2003]
The First Selectman, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, shall appoint one citation hearing officer, other than police officers or employees or persons who issue citations, to conduct the hearing authorized by § 179-8.
[Added 9-17-2003]
A.
Newtown, at any time within 12 months from the expiration
of the final period for the uncontested payment of fines, penalties,
costs or fees for any citation issued under any ordinance adopted
pursuant to C.G.S. § 7-148 or 22a-226d, for an alleged violation
thereof, shall send notice to the person cited. Such notice shall
inform the person cited:
(1)
Of the allegations against him and the amount of the
fines, penalties, costs or fees due;
(2)
That he may contest his liability before a citation
hearing officer by delivering in person or by mail written notice
within 10 days of the date thereof;
(3)
That if he does not demand such a hearing an assessment
and judgment shall be entered against him; and
(4)
That such judgment may issue without further notice.
B.
If the person who is sent notice pursuant to Subsection A of this section wishes to admit liability for any alleged violation, he may, without requesting a hearing, pay the full amount of the fines, penalties, costs or fees admitted to in person or by mail to an official designated by such municipality. Such payment shall be inadmissible in any proceeding, civil or criminal, to establish the conduct of such person or other person making the payment. Any person who does not deliver or mail written demand for a hearing within 10 days of the date of the first notice provided for in Subsection A of this section shall be deemed to have admitted liability, and the designated municipal official shall certify such person's failure to respond to the hearing officer. The hearing officer shall thereupon enter and assess the fines, penalties, costs or fees provided for by the applicable ordinances and shall follow the procedures set forth in Subsection D of this section.
C.
Any person who requests a hearing shall be given written
notice of the date, time and place for the hearing. Such hearing shall
be held not less than 15 days nor more than 30 days from the date
of the mailing of notice, provided the hearing officer shall grant,
upon good cause shown, any reasonable request by any interested party
for postponement or continuance. An original or certified copy of
the initial notice of violation issued by the issuing official or
policeman shall be filed and retained by the municipality, and shall
be deemed to be a business record within the scope of C.G.S. § 52-180
and evidence of the facts contained therein. The presence of the issuing
official or policeman shall be required at the hearing if such person
so requests. A person wishing to contest his liability shall appear
at the hearing and may present evidence on behalf of the municipality.
If such person fails to appear, the hearing officer may enter an assessment
by default against him upon a finding of proper notice and liability
under the applicable statutes or ordinances. The hearing officer may
accept from such person copies of police reports, investigatory and
citation reports, and other official documents by mail and may determine
thereby that the appearance of such person is unnecessary. The hearing
officer shall conduct the hearing in the order and form and with such
methods of proof as he deems fair and appropriate. The rules regarding
the admissibility of evidence shall not be strictly applied, but all
testimony shall be given under oath or affirmation. The hearing officer
shall announce his decision at the end of the hearing. If he determines
that the person is not liable, he shall dismiss the matter and enter
his determination in writing accordingly. If he determines that the
person is liable for the violation, he shall forthwith enter and assess
the fines, penalties, costs or fees against such person as provided
by the applicable ordinances of the municipality.
D.
If such assessment is not paid on the date of its
entry, the hearing officer shall send by first class mail a notice
of the assessment to the person found liable and shall file, not less
than 30 days nor more than 12 months after such mailing, a certified
copy of the notice of assessment with the clerk of a superior court
facility designated by the Chief Court Administrator together with
an entry fee of $8. The certified copy of the notice of assessment
shall constitute a record of assessment. Within such twelve-month
period, assessments against the same person may be accrued and filed
as one record of assessment. The clerk shall enter judgment, in the
amount of such record of assessment and court costs of $8, against
such person in favor of the municipality. Notwithstanding any provision
of the general statutes, the hearing officer's assessment, when so
entered as a judgment, shall have the effect of a civil money judgment,
and a levy of execution on such judgment may issue without further
notice to such person.
E.
A person against whom an assessment has been entered
pursuant to this section is entitled to judicial review by way of
appeal. An appeal shall be instituted within 30 days of the mailing
of notice of such assessment by filing a petition to reopen assessment,
together with any entry fee in an amount equal to the entry fee for
a small claims case pursuant to C.G.S. § 52-259, at a Superior
Court facility designated by the Chief Court Administrator, which
shall entitle such person to a hearing in accordance with the rules
of the judges of the Superior Court.
