(a) Any person wanting a license in conformity with this chapter shall obtain an application for same from the Police Chief, and shall submit the completed application, along with the appropriate fee, to such office, on a form supplied by the Chief that shall contain the following information:
(1) Full name of the applicant;
(2) Date of birth of the applicant;
(3) Local address of the applicant, if any;
(4) Permanent home address of the applicant verified by state driver’s license, state identification card or like form of identification;
(5) Telephone number of the applicant;
(6) Physical description of the applicant, setting forth age, height, weight, color of hair and eyes and sex;
(7) Two photographs of the applicant of appropriate size (approximately two inches by two inches), one of which shall be attached at all times to the license or registration, and the other of which shall be for the records of the Police Department;
(8) Social Security number of the applicant;
(9) A notarized statement as to whether the applicant has ever been convicted of a crime and, if so, where and the nature of the offense and the punishment or penalty imposed therefor, if any;
(10) Such other information as the Chief may require in order to protect the public health, safety and/or general welfare;
(11) Name, address and telephone number of the organization represented;
(12) A description of the nature of the business and the goods, wares, merchandise, property and/or services to be sold; and
(13) Dates, times and particular locations where the peddling or solicitation is to be performed.
(b) (1) All license applications shall be referred to the Police Chief who shall, within ten days after receipt of the completed application, issue licenses to the solicitors or peddlers unless he or she finds that:
A. The applicant has provided false, misleading or deceptive information in his or her application; and/or
B. The applicant or any solicitor or peddler named on the license application has been convicted of a felony violation or misdemeanor violation involving weapons, theft, moral turpitude or violence within the past five years.
(2) Any license issued under this chapter shall be valid for not more than six months. A separate license shall be required for each individual solicitor or peddler even though there may be a single employer.
(c) (1) Each applicant shall pay a fee in the amount of $20 per week or $50 per six months, which fee shall be paid at the time the application is submitted.
(2) Applicants who are agents for nonprofit, charitable, religious, civic or educational organizations that meet the definition thereof as contained in R.C. § 2915.01(H), (I) or (J), or have duly registered with the state under the provisions of R.C. Chapter 1716, shall be exempt from the licensing requirements of this section upon submittal of:
A. The Internal Revenue Service Federal Income Tax Exemption Letter and/or the State of Ohio Letter of Registration under R.C. Chapter 1716 in effect at the time of application by such organization; and
B. A written statement from such organization listing the individuals representing such organization in the city.
(d) Once issued, a license may be used only in conformity with the laws of the city and the state; may not be assigned or transferred; must be carried by the licensee at all times; and may be revoked or suspended by the Police Chief for any of the following causes:
(1) The licensee provided false, misleading or deceptive information in the license application;
(2) The licensee is convicted of a felony or of a misdemeanor involving fraud or moral turpitude;
(3) The licensee violates any provision of this chapter or peddles or solicits in an unlawful manner; and
(4) Upon written complaint being filed with the Police Department, that the licensee has made himself or herself obnoxious to the public by the use of indecent, profane or insulting language or has made or perpetrated any misstatement, deception or fraud in connection with any solicitation or sale, and if said complaint is found to be true, the license of such solicitor or peddler shall be revoked.
(e) In the event a license application is not approved or in the event any license issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is revoked, written notice shall be given to the applicant or licensee by personal service or by certified mail. The applicant or licensee shall have ten days after the receipt of such notice to appeal such refusal or revocation. Such appeal shall be perfected by filing a notice of the appeal with the City Council; thereupon the applicant shall have not less than ten days notice of the date and place of the hearing. The City Council shall have the power, after such hearing, to either affirm, modify or overrule the decision of the Police Chief.
(f) Any canvasser not involved in religious proselytizing or anonymous political speech shall register with the Chief before obtaining or seeking to obtain or influencing the opinions of the residents of the city. Any canvasser shall provide the Chief in writing with his or her name, address and telephone number, the name, address and telephone number of the organization represented and the dates, times and particular locations where canvassing is to be performed. No fee shall be charged for the registration of any canvasser. Any registration hereunder shall be valid for not more than 90 days.
(Ord. 2006-294, passed 12-18-2006; Ord. 2008-314, passed 11-17-2008)