Chapter 5.15
PEDDLERS1
Sections:
5.15.010 Definition of peddler.
5.15.020 Permit required – Exemptions.
5.15.030 Permit – Application.
5.15.040 Investigation of applicant – Issuance and denial of permit.
5.15.090 Loud noises or speaking devices.
5.15.130 Unlawful to peddle or solicit on posted premises.
5.15.010 Definition of peddler.
A peddler is defined as follows:
(1) All persons, both principals and agents, as well as employers and employees, who shall sell, offer for or expose for sale, or who shall trade, deal or traffic in any personal property or services in the town by going from house to house or from place to place or by indiscriminately approaching individuals.
(2) Sales by sample or for future delivery, and executory contracts of sale by solicitors or peddlers are embraced within subsection (1) of this section; provided, however, that this chapter is not applicable to any salesperson or canvasser who solicits trade from wholesale or retail dealers in the town.
(3) Any person, both principals and agents, as well as employers and employees, who, while selling or offering for sale, any goods, wares, merchandise or anything of value, stands in a doorway or any unenclosed vacant lot, parcel of land, or in any other place not used by such person as a permanent place of business. [Ord. 472 § 1, 2008]
5.15.020 Permit required – Exemptions.
(1) No person, corporation, partnership or other organization shall engage in the business of peddler within the town limits without first obtaining a permit therefor as provided in this chapter. If an individual is acting as an agent for or employed by an individual, corporation, partnership or other organization, both the individual and the employer or principal for whom the individual is peddling must obtain a permit as provided in this chapter.
(2) The following persons are eligible for an exemption to the permit requirements and fee provisions of this chapter:
(a) Farmers who peddle agricultural, horticultural or farm products which they have actually grown, harvested or produced;
(b) Any person who is specifically requested to call upon another for the purpose of displaying goods, literature or giving information about any article, service or product;
(c) Charitable, religious or nonprofit organizations or corporations which have received tax exempt status under 26 USC 501(c)(3) or other similar civic, charitable or nonprofit organizations;
(d) Newspaper carriers; provided, however, that any such person must first apply for an exemption on forms to be furnished by the town administrator. Upon determination by the town administrator that such person is exempt from the permit requirements of this chapter, a special permit shall be issued which must be carried by the person at all times the person is engaging in peddling in the town;
(e) Bona fide candidates, campaign workers, and political committees campaigning on behalf of candidates or on ballot issues and persons soliciting signatures of registered voters on petitions to be submitted to any governmental agency;
(f) Pursuant to RCW 73.04.050, every honorably discharged soldier, sailor or marine of the military or naval service of the United States, who is a resident of this state, shall not have to pay a fee for the license. [Ord. 472 § 2, 2008]
5.15.030 Permit – Application.
(1) Applicants for a permit under this chapter must file with the town administrator a sworn application in writing on a form to be furnished by the town.
(2) Individuals who are employed by or acting as an agent for another individual, corporation, partnership or other organization shall provide the following information on the application:
(a) Name, date of birth and description of the applicant;
(b) Address and telephone number;
(c) A brief description of the nature of the business and the goods or services to be sold;
(d) If employed or acting as an agent, the name and address of the employer or principal, together with a description of the exact relationship with the principal or employer;
(e) If a vehicle is to be used, a description of the same, including the license number;
(f) A photograph of the applicant, taken within 60 days immediately prior to the date of filing the application, which picture shall be two inches by two inches, showing the head and shoulders of the applicant in a clear and distinguishing manner;
(g) A statement as to whether or not the applicant has been convicted of any crime within the past 10 years, including misdemeanors or violations of any municipal ordinance, the nature of the offense, and the punishment or penalty assessed therefor; and
(h) Such other information as may be required by the town.
(3) Any individual, corporation, partnership or other organization which acts as the principal or employer for individual peddlers shall provide the following information on the application:
(a) The applicant’s name, address and telephone number, and the names and addresses of all individuals who are employed by or acting as an agent for the applicant;
(b) If a corporation, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the corporation’s board of directors, principal officers and registered agent; provided, however, that the town administrator may waive any portion of this requirement when disclosure would be unduly burdensome;
(c) If a partnership, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the partners;
(d) A list of any criminal convictions during the past 10 years for the applicant, any owners of the business, and if a corporation, the board of directors and officers;
(e) The name, address and telephone numbers (business and home) of the individual, if applicable, acting as the manager for the applicant;
(f) A list of all other cities, towns and counties where the applicant has obtained a peddlers permit or similar permit within the past five years; and
(g) Such other information as may be required by the town.
(4) At the time of filing the application, the applicant shall pay a nonrefundable fee, in an amount set forth in the town permit fee resolution, to the town to cover the costs of investigation and the issuance of a permit. The permit fee resolution shall take into account the provisions of RCW 73.04.050. [Ord. 472 § 3, 2008]
5.15.040 Investigation of applicant – Issuance and denial of permit.
(1) The city administrator shall refer the application to the police department which shall determine the accuracy of the information contained in the application and conduct a criminal history background investigation of the applicant. Upon completion, the police department shall forward the results of the investigation, together with a recommendation for approval or denial, to the town administrator.
(2) If, as a result of the investigation, the character and business responsibility of the applicant are found to be satisfactory, the town administrator shall issue the permit to the applicant. The town administrator shall deny the applicant the permit if the applicant has:
(a) Committed any act consisting of fraud or misrepresentation;
(b) Committed any act which, if committed by a permit holder, would be grounds for suspension or revocation of a permit;
(c) Within the previous 10 years, been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony directly relating to the occupation of peddler, including, but not limited to, those misdemeanors and felonies involving moral turpitude, fraud or misrepresentation;
(d) Been refused a permit under the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that any applicant denied a permit under the provisions of this chapter may reapply if and when the reasons for denial no longer exist; or
(e) Made any false or misleading statement in the application.
(3) The denial of a permit to an individual, corporation, partnership or other organization which serves as the employer or principal for individual peddlers shall be a sufficient basis to deny a permit to the individual applicants who are employed by or acting as an agent for the applicant. [Ord. 472 § 4, 2008]
5.15.050 Permit – Exhibition.
Peddlers are required to exhibit their permit at the request of any citizen or police officer. [Ord. 472 § 5, 2008]
5.15.060 Permit – Expiration.
All permits issued pursuant to this chapter are nontransferable and shall be valid for the calendar year in which issued. License fees shall not be prorated for any portion of the year. [Ord. 472 § 6, 2008]
5.15.070 Permit – Revocation.
(1) Permits issued pursuant to this chapter may be revoked by the town administrator after notice and hearing for any of the following causes:
(a) Fraud, misrepresentation, or false statement contained in the application for permit;
(b) Fraud, misrepresentation, or false statement made in the course of carrying on the business as peddler;
(c) A violation of this chapter;
(d) Conviction after submission of the application for a peddler’s permit of a felony or misdemeanor directly relating to the occupation of peddler, including, but not limited to, those misdemeanors and felonies involving moral turpitude, fraud or misrepresentation; or
(e) Conducting the business of peddling in any unlawful manner or in such a manner as to constitute a breach of the peace or to constitute a menace to the health, safety and general welfare of the public.
(2) The revocation of any permit held by an individual, corporation, partnership or other organization which serves as the employer or principal for individual peddlers shall constitute a basis for revoking the permits issued to individual applicants who are employed by or acting as agents for such individual, corporation, partnership or organization.
(3) The revocation of a permit for three or more persons who are employees or agents of an individual, corporation, partnership or organization shall constitute a basis for revoking the permit issued to the employer or principal, as well as the permits issued to all other employees or agents of that employer or principal.
(4) Notice of the hearing for revocation of a permit shall be given in writing, setting forth specifically the grounds of the complaint and the time and place of hearing. In addition, it shall state that the peddler’s permit shall be suspended pending the outcome of said hearing. Such notice shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the permit holder at his or her last known address at least 10 days prior to the date set for hearing. If the permit holder is an individual, corporation, partnership or organization which employs or serves as the principal for individual permit holders, the notice shall also be mailed to the individual permit holders. [Ord. 472 § 7, 2008]
5.15.080 Right of appeal.
Any person aggrieved by the action of the town administrator in the denial of an application for permit or in the decision to revoke a permit as provided in this chapter shall have the right to appeal to the town hearing examiner in accordance with the procedures set out in HPMC 5.25.110. [Ord. 472 § 8, 2008]
5.15.090 Loud noises or speaking devices.
No peddler, nor any person on the peddler’s behalf, shall shout, make any outcry, blow a horn, ring a bell or use any sound device, including any loud-speaking radio or sound-amplifying system, upon any of the streets, alleys, parks or other public places of the town or upon any private premises in the town where sound of sufficient volume is emitted or produced therefrom to be capable of being plainly heard upon the streets, avenues, alleys, parks or other public places for the purpose of attracting attention to any goods, wares or merchandise which such peddler proposes to sell. [Ord. 472 § 9, 2008]
5.15.100 Use of streets.
No peddler shall have any exclusive right to any location in the public streets, nor be permitted a stationary location, nor be permitted to operate in any congested area where operations might impede or inconvenience the public. For the purpose of this section, the judgment of a police officer, exercised in good faith, shall be conclusive as to whether the area is congested or the public impeded or inconvenienced. [Ord. 472 § 10, 2008]
5.15.110 Hours and notice.
All peddlers shall notify the town administrator at least two hours before any peddling activities are to be conducted. If peddling activities will take place on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday the peddler shall notify the town administrator that such activities are going to occur by close of business on the Thursday prior.
No person shall engage in the business of peddler between the hours of:
(1) October 1st through April 30th, between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. of any day.
(2) May 1st through September 30th, between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. of any day. [Ord. 472 § 11, 2008]
5.15.120 Records.
The police department shall report to the town administrator all convictions for violations of this chapter, and the town administrator shall maintain a record for each permit issued and record the reports of violations therein. [Ord. 472 § 12, 2008]
5.15.130 Unlawful to peddle or solicit on posted premises.
It is unlawful for any uninvited peddler to ring the bell, or knock on the door, or otherwise attempt to gain admittance for the purpose of peddling or soliciting at any residence or dwelling at which a sign bearing the words “No Peddlers or Solicitors” (or words of similar import indicating that peddlers or solicitors are not wanted on said premises) is painted, affixed, or otherwise exposed to public view. [Ord. 472 § 13, 2008]
5.15.140 Violation – Penalty.
(1) Criminal Penalties. Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or failure to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or by imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or by both. Any such violation of any provisions of this chapter shall also be grounds for revocation of a license previously approved.
(2) Civil Penalties. Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter is, in lieu of or in addition to any criminal penalties, subject to a maximum civil penalty of $500.00 for each day or portion of the day that the violation continues.
(3) Other Legal Remedies. Nothing in this article limits the right of the town to pursue other lawful, criminal, civil or equitable remedies to abate, discontinue, correct or discourage unlawful acts under or in violation of this article. [Ord. 472 § 14, 2008]
Prior legislation: Ord. 287.