(a) Registration Required. No person shall act as a canvasser or solicitor in this City without first having registered as such with the Director of Public Safety. However, the Director of Public Safety shall issue a certificate of registration to each applicant and such certificate shall be carried on the person at all times when engaged in such canvassing, solicitation, or sales and shown on request of any police officer or any person of whom a request for contribution or offer to sell is made. Each canvasser or solicitor shall provide a written receipt and, if applicable, a statement attesting to the organization's exempt status under Section 501 of the Federal Internal Revenue Code, if requested to do so by the person making a contribution or purchase. Such receipt shall show the name of the organization, amount of the contribution, and the date and shall be signed by the solicitor.
(b) Registration Application; Contents. Application for a certificate of registration shall be made upon a form provided by the Director of Public Safety, or the Director’s Designee. Each application shall contain, at a minimum, the following information set forth below. An application form on behalf of any entity or organization shall also provide the following information for each and every individual desiring to canvass or solicit on behalf of such entity or organization:
(1) The name of the Applicant;
(2) A physical description of the Applicant;
(3) The Applicant’s driver’s license number with state of issue or state identification card;
(4) The name and address of the person or entity, if any, on whose behalf the Applicant will be canvassing or soliciting and the length of the Applicant’s service with such person or entity;
(5) All places of residence of the Applicant and all employment during the preceding year;
(6) A description of the goods to be sold or services to be furnished by the Applicant or the purposes for which funds are being solicited;
(7) The names of other municipalities in which the Applicant has conducted canvassing or solicitation activities within the past calendar year; and
(8) Such other information as the Director of Public Safety, or the Director’s Designee may require.
(c) Photographs. Applicant shall furnish a photograph of himself or herself taken within one (1) year of the date of the Application.
(d) Application Fee. At the time of submission of a completed Application, the Applicant shall pay a non-refundable Application Fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). If the Applicant is an entity or organization, the additional sum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be paid for each person who is canvassing or soliciting within the City under the authority of the Applicant’s permit.
(e) Date of Validity. Any permit issued shall be valid for its respective term from the date of issuance.
(f) Permit and Identification Badge. If the Director of Public Safety, or the Director’s Designee, determines that all information and items required under division (b) and (c) of this Section have been submitted and is corrected and that the Applicant’s prepares to engage in activity permitted by this Chapter, a Permit and Identification Badge shall be issued to the Applicant within five (5) business days of the submission of the Application and required Fee and the completion of the Background Check under division (g) of this Section. This time period shall not commence to run until the required Application Fee is paid and the Application and all required information have been submitted. No Permit or Identification Badge shall be assigned or transferred by the Applicant to any other individual or organization.
(g) Background Check. Upon receipt of a completed Application, the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) will conduct a background check for each individual set forth in the Application. If, as a result of such investigation, the Applicant’s character and business responsibilities are found to be unsatisfactory, the Application shall be denied.
(h) Display of Identification Badge. All Applicants issued a Permit under this Chapter shall display their identification Badge in a prominent manner on their outer clothing so it is visible to the public while conducting canvassing or solicitation and display the Permit upon request of any duly authorized representative of the City and upon demand by any peson subject to the Applicant’s canvassing or solication.
(i) Six Month Limitation. In no case shall any certificate of registration for canvassers, solicitors or door-to-door salespersons in interstate commerce be valid for more than a six-month period. The certificate of registration shall state the expiration date thereof.
(j) Registration Revocation. Any certificate of registration issued hereunder shall be revoked by the Director of Public Safety if the holder thereof is convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this Chapter, or has made a false material statement in the application.
Immediately upon such revocation, written notice thereof shall be given by the Director of Public Safety to the holder of the certificate of registration in person or by certified U.S. mail addressed to his residence address as set forth in the application, and if applicable to the firm or organization the holder of the certificate of registration represents. Immediately upon the giving of such notice, the certificate of registration shall become null and void.
(Ord. 2009-17. Passed 3-17-09; Ord. 2020-68. Passed 7-14-20; Ord. 2020-73. Passed 8-11-20.)