It is the purpose and intent of this article to preserve public safety, human life
and convenience; to secure the comfort, health, welfare and prosperity of all city
inhabitants; to ensure that the use of streets in the city does not become dangerous
and that the free flow of traffic thereon is not impeded; to preserve privacy and
quiet to those in the home; to protect city inhabitants against crime and undue annoyance;
and to protect those on the streets and at home against abusive behavior by peddlers
and canvassers.
It is also the purpose and intent of this article to address the significant public
health, welfare and safety concerns and crowd control problems caused by peddling
and canvassing on or near public streets which are in use by vehicular traffic. The
city commission finds that such public health, welfare and safety concerns and crowd
control problems arise because peddling involves the process of a peddler offering
for sale goods, merchandise or wares to an occupant or operator of a vehicle which
is in traffic, that vehicle occupant or operator must consider the offer, and, if
the vehicle occupant or operator decides to purchase the goods, merchandise or wares,
that person must reach for a wallet, search for money, or write a check, all while
the peddler and vehicle are located on a public street in use by vehicular traffic.
Based on the foregoing, the city commission finds that the activity of peddling from
occupants or operators of vehicles located on streets in use by vehicular traffic
distracts drivers from their primary duty to watch traffic and potential hazards in
the road, observe all traffic signals or warnings and move through the city's streets
and intersections in a lawful and safe manner and creates a potential safety hazard
and poses a substantial risk to the public, and impedes the free flow of traffic on
the streets within the city resulting in the delay and obstruction of the public's
free flow of travel on the city's streets. The city commission further finds that
the safety of peddlers, canvassers, pedestrians and operators or occupants of vehicles
is at significant risk when peddlers or canvassers engage in their activities on or
near public streets which are in use by vehicular traffic because the nature of these
activities often entails peddlers and canvassers standing on traffic medians, bicycle
paths and public streets in use by vehicular traffic, property only meant for the
use and control of vehicular traffic and not peddling or canvassing activities.
It is not the purpose and intent of this article to prohibit peddling and canvassing
in public areas when such activities will not interfere with vehicular traffic and
cause traffic safety and traffic flow concerns. For example, peddlers may conduct
their activities on public sidewalks so long as they are not conducting transactions
with operators or occupants of vehicles in traffic and are otherwise in compliance
with this Code. In addition, canvassers may engage in their activities on public sidewalks
so long as they are otherwise in compliance with this Code.
