(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit alms or financial assistance for himself or herself or on behalf of any charitable institution, association or organization from house to house or upon any public street or thoroughfare or sidewalk within the city, without having first obtained a written permit from the Police Chief or his or her designee.
(B) The permit shall state its expiration date on the face thereof. The permit shall be carried by each person soliciting alms or donations while engaged in that activity.
(C) With regard to solicitation of alms by standing in a public roadway, state law prohibits such activity unless authorized to do so by the local authority having jurisdiction over the roadway and the solicitation is made on behalf of an organization defined as charitable by the standards of the United States Internal Revenue Service. Accordingly, the Police Chief or his or her designee is hereby authorized to issue a permit to a qualified charitable organization for only one solicitation period on a public roadway per calendar year. Such permit shall be valid for up to two consecutive days as specified in the permit during the daylight hours only.
(D) Each person soliciting alms or donations from house to house or upon any public street or thoroughfare or sidewalk within the city shall be required to wear a reflective safety vest provided by the individual or their charitable organization.
(E) The Police Chief or his or her designee is authorized to immediately revoke any permit issued hereunder upon a determination that the manner of solicitation is being conducted with disregard to public safety.
(F) This section is enacted by the city to help prevent fraud and financial crimes and for general public safety. It is not aimed at preventing or limiting solicitation of money for political purposes nor limiting freedom of speech or religion.
(Ord. 2016-08, passed 5-3-2016) Penalty, see § 10.99