No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or noncommercial handbill in or on any sidewalk, street or other public place. Unless otherwise authorized by the city council, it is an infraction for any person to hand out, distribute or sell any commercial handbill in any public place, provided, however, that it shall not be unlawful on any sidewalk, street, or other public place for any person to hand out or distribute, without charge to the receiver thereof, any noncommercial handbill to any person willing to accept it. (Prior code § 10-440)