No solicitor or peddler shall peddle within the City, unless he or she is the holder of a valid license issued pursuant to this Section.
(a) Definitions.
(1) "Solicitor" means any person who obtains or seeks to obtain funds for any cause whatsoever by traveling door to door either by foot, automobile, truck or any other type of conveyance upon private residences, including any residence, house, apartment or other dwelling, within the City; and
(2) "Peddler" means any person traveling either by foot, automobile, truck or another type of conveyance from place to place, door to door or street to street, taking or attempting to take orders for profit by the sale of goods, wares, and merchandise or personal property of any nature whatsoever for immediate or future delivery or for services to be furnished or performed immediately or in the future.
(b) License Required.
(1) Any person wanting a license shall obtain an application from the office of the Chief of Police, and shall submit the completed application, along with a valid drivers license or identification card issued by the State of Ohio or any other State for inspection and copying and an appropriate fee, to such office, on a form supplied by the Chief of Police which shall contain the following information:
A. Name, address and social security number of applicant;
B. Name and address of the organization represented with credentials from the organization showing the exact relationship; and
C. A description of the proposed activities.
(2) Each applicant shall pay a non-refundable fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for a two day license or one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a calendar year license which shall be paid at the time the application is submitted.
(3) No person who has been convicted of a felony or any misdemeanors involving false statements, dishonesty, theft, offenses of violence, offenses against juveniles, or violations of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2907 shall be eligible for a license.
(4) All license applications shall be referred to the Chief of Police, who shall, within seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of the completed application, issue licenses, unless the Chief of Police finds that:
A. The applicant has provided false information in his or her application; and/or
B. The applicant named on the license has been convicted of one of the crimes listed in subsection (b)(3).
(c) All licenses issued under this chapter shall be valid for a two day period or one (1) calendar year, expiring on December 31st.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, no peddler or solicitor, while peddling or soliciting, shall call upon, knock at the door or ring the doorbell of any residence, house, apartment or other dwelling in the City before 9:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, or before 12:00 p.m. or after 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.
(e) This chapter shall not apply to any visit to the premises as a result of a specific request or appointment made by a lawful possessor and occupant of said premises.
(f) Any license issued hereunder shall be revoked by the Chief of Police if the holder thereof is convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, has made a false material statement in the application, has made misrepresentations or false statements in the course of conducting activity, or in using the license has conducted himself or herself in an unlawful manner or in such a manner as to constitute a breach of peace or to constitute a menace to the health, safety or general welfare of the public; and, any conviction for a violation of this chapter shall be cause for rejection of future licenses.
(g) 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 certified mail. The applicant or licensee shall have ten (10) days after the receipt of such notice to appeal such refusal or revocation. Such appeal shall be perfected by filing a notice of appeal with the Mayor, who shall notify the applicant or licensee or his or her decision in writing within ten (10) days after receipt of such notice of appeal unless the applicant or licensee agrees to a longer period of time.
(h) Whoever violates any provision of this Chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on the first offense and shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree for a second or subsequent violation of this Chapter or of any substantially similar Chapter of these Codified Ordinances.
(i) A violation of this section, in addition to other penalties provided for in this Chapter, is deemed as trespass and shall be punishable as set forth in the Ohio Revised Code and these Codified Ordinances.
(Ord. 16-80. Passed 12-15-16.)