(A) Chief of Police shall issue permit. The Chief of Police shall issue a permit, or a temporary permit, as appropriate, to each applicant who meets the requirements of this chapter.
(B) Permit application procedure.
(1) The application shall be on a form issued by the Chief of Police, signed by the applicant and witnessed by the Chief of Police, and shall set forth the following information:
(a) The applicant’s first and last names and middle initial;
(b) The applicant’s date of birth;
(c) The applicant’s contact information;
(d) The applicant’s emergency contact information;
(e) A brief description of the activity to be conducted, including, if applicable, any items or services to be sold or offered for sale; and
(f) If the applicant is soliciting on behalf of a group or charity, the name and address of the group or charity.
(2) The applicant’s contact information may include any of the following:
(a) An address serviced by the United States Postal System;
(b) An email address;
(c) A telephone number(s); or
(d) Any information that the Chief of Police may reasonably use to contact the applicant.
(3) The applicant’s emergency contact information may include any of the following:
(a) An address serviced by the United States Postal System;
(b) An email address;
(c) A telephone number(s); or
(d) Any information that the Chief of Police may reasonably use to contact the emergency contact person(s) specified by the applicant.
(C) Identification required. The applicant shall present identification. Any valid government-issued photo identification shall be deemed sufficient. If the applicant does not possess valid government-issued photo identification, the applicant may present other documentation that reasonably establishes his or her identity.
(D) Chief of Police to keep record of identification. The Chief of Police shall make a black and white copy of the applicant’s identification and keep the same on file. If the applicant does not possess valid government-issued photo identification, the applicant shall allow himself or herself to be photographed by the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police shall keep the photograph on file.
(E) Identification if the applicant is a minor. If the applicant is a minor and does not possess valid government-issued photo identification, he or she may present a valid photo identification, non-photo identification, or other documentation from any public or private school, including a home school, recognized by any state in the United States of America that reasonably establishes his or her identity.
(F) Criminal background check. The Chief of Police shall perform a criminal background check on all applicants.
(G) Applicant shall provide sufficient information. The applicant shall provide his or her first and last name, middle initial, and date of birth. If this information is deemed insufficient by the Chief of Police, the applicant shall provide additional information sufficient to allow the Chief of Police to conduct a criminal background check. If the applicant does not provide sufficient information to allow the Chief of Police to conduct a criminal background check, the Chief of Police shall deny a permit or a temporary permit.
(H) Applicant may provide Social Security number. To reduce the potential for confusion when running a criminal background check, the applicant may choose to provide his or her Social Security number. The applicant’s provision of his or her Social Security number is optional, and shall not be required. However, if the applicant cannot provide sufficient information other than his or her Social Security number to allow the Chief of Police to conduct a criminal background check, and the applicant elects not to provide his or her Social Security number, then the Chief of Police shall deny a permit or a temporary permit.
(I) No permit fee. No applicant shall be charged a fee for a permit.
(J) Lost permit. If an applicant loses a permit, he or she may apply for a new permit.
(K) Assistance with application. The Chief of Police shall provide reasonable assistance completing the application to any person who requests the same.
(L) List of volunteers. The Chief of Police shall maintain a list of organizations and/or volunteers, along with their contact information, who have asked the Chief of Police to be put on a list of organizations and/or volunteers willing to assist applicants free of charge. If the Chief of Police is unable to provide the assistance needed by the applicant, the Chief of Police shall give a copy of the list to the applicant.
(M) Temporary permit. All applicants who present a properly completed application shall be issued a temporary permit. A temporary permit shall be good for 14 calendar days. A temporary permit shall state the date upon which it is granted, and the date upon which it expires.
(N) Extension of temporary permit. If the Chief of Police has neither issued a permit nor denied a permit application by the time a temporary permit expires, the Chief of Police shall issue another temporary permit.
(O) Permit expiration. A permit shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance. A permit shall state the date upon which it is granted, and the date upon which it expires.
(P) Protective vest. All individuals engaged in solicitation under this chapter shall wear a reflective vest which meets standards set by the North Carolina Department of Transportation at all times while engaged in solicitation activities. Upon the issuance of a permit, the Chief of Police shall have available to permittee’s a vest which complies with these requirements and shall be available to permittee without charge.
(Q) Protective vest for minor accompanying a solicitor. All children accompanying or being supervised by individuals engaged in solicitation under this chapter shall wear a reflective vest which meets the standards set by the North Carolina Department of Transportation at all times while the person they are accompanying or being supervised by is engaged in solicitation activities. Upon the issuance of a permit, the Chief of Police shall have available to all such minor children a vest which complies with these requirements, which shall be available to the minor child(ren) without charge so long as said minor child(ren) appear in person at the office of the Chief of Police with the permittee.
(R) Solicitor may not be accompanied by domestic animals. No individual engaged in solicitation under this chapter may be accompanied by any domestic animal if the individual is soliciting within 15 feet of a road, street, or highway. Service animals are exempt from this requirement.
(Ord. passed 2-8-2021)