Redlands Municipal Code Ch. 5.36 Peddling, Solicitation and Distribution of Advertising

This chapter shall be known as the PEDDLING, SOLICITATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ADVERTISING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY. (Prior code § 41501)

The city council of Redlands does find, determine and declare:

A. The distribution of commercial advertising material upon residential property without their permission in the city creates widespread litter which is unsightly; inadvertently advertises the absence of occupants of the property to the dissolute or criminal elements of society, thereby increasing the possibility of criminal activity and the resulting police problems to the city, and places an unnecessary burden upon the residents and city to properly dispose of the commercial advertising materials;

B. Door to door commercial solicitation of unwilling recipients by salesmen of goods and services jeopardizes the right of residents in the city to enjoy the privacy of their homes and serious public offenses have been committed by purported solicitors;

C. The practice of distributing, depositing, placing, throwing, scattering, and casting advertising matter in or upon motor vehicles and in or upon the public streets and in public places, except to persons who are willing to receive the same, creates a serious police problem and a threat to the public safety in that such material is permitted to fall and is thrown upon parking areas, public streets and public places, and is blown about and accumulated as trash and creates fire hazards and unsightly conditions, and requires extra expense to remove such trash;

D. Such practices are injurious and inimical to the public health, safety and welfare of residents of the city and such problems are becoming increasingly direct and substantial;

E. Such practices are, therefore, declared to be a public nuisance;

F. Such practices should be prohibited to protect the public health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the city. (Prior code § 41502)

No person shall throw, cast, distribute, scatter, deposit, or place upon any public place within the city, including, but not limited to, streets, alleys, public parks, and school grounds, any handbill, dodger, circular, newspaper, paper, booklet, poster, or any other printed matter or advertising literature of any kind; provided, however, the same may be personally delivered to persons who are willing to accept the same. (Prior code § 41503)

No person shall throw, distribute, or place in or on any automobile or other vehicle in the city any handbill, dodger, circular, newspaper, paper, booklet, poster, or any other printed matter, or advertising literature without first having obtained the permission of the owner or person in possession thereof. (Prior code § 41504)

No person may distribute, circulate, or deliver any newspaper, written handbill, circular, advertising literature or materials upon any private premises if the owner or occupant thereof has filed with the city clerk a written objection to such distribution in accordance with the provisions of section 5.36.060 of this chapter. (Prior code § 41505)

A. Each resident or owner of any private property or any business, corporation, or enterprise of the city who wishes to object to the distribution upon his premises of any newspaper, or other matter referred to in section 5.36.050 of this chapter, may file with the city clerk a written declaration of such objection which shall include his name, the address where no distributions are to be made, the declarant's capacity to make such objection, and the name of the distribution to which he objects;

B. The city clerk shall maintain on file all objections by residents to the distribution of any newspaper, or other matter referred to in section 5.36.050 of this chapter, and shall have available on the first Monday of each month, for the benefit of all licensed distributors, a list of addresses of those persons having filed objections. Such list shall contain the name of the specific newspaper, or other matter referred to in section 5.36.050 of this chapter, objected to and the address where no such distributions are to be made. (Prior code § 41506)

It shall be the duty of each and every distributor of a newspaper or other matter referred to in section 5.36.050 of this chapter, to secure the monthly list of those objecting to its distribution and shall be held to have notice of such list as of the date such list is made available. (Prior code § 41507)

It is unlawful to throw, cast or scatter any printed or written material of any type whatsoever in or onto any public place; into, or upon any automobile, vehicle, or conveyance; or in, into or on the yard or grounds or on the doorstep, porch or vestibule of any residence, apartment or dwelling; or upon any vacant lot or other private property within the city. (Prior code § 41509)

It is unlawful for any person within the city to distribute any patent medicine, or any medicinal preparation or compound, or any medicines, drugs, herbs, or samples thereof within the city, except to physicians and druggists. (Prior code § 41510)

Any printed or written material which may be passed out, given away, circulated or delivered in the city, pursuant to law, shall be:

A. Placed in the hand of the intended recipient; or

B. Bound, folded or weighted in such a manner that the material cannot be blown away, scattered, or fragmented by the action of the elements and/or normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic; or

C. Affixed to the premises for which it is intended by being tied to or slipped over a doorknob or other protrusion. (Prior code § 41511)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment for a period of not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Prior code § 41513)