Ventura Municipal Code Ch. 18.220 Handbills 5

5 Cross reference(s): Use of public streets and other rights-of-way for parades, Chapter 18.250.

A. Unlawful to Throw. It shall be unlawful for any persons, either directly or indirectly, to deposit, place, throw, scatter, or cast any handbill in or on any public thoroughfare, park, ground, or other public place within the city; the provisions of this section shall not be deemed to prohibit the handling, transmitting or distributing of any handbill to any person willing to accept such handbill. “Handbill” includes any printed or written advertising matter, any sample or device, dodger, circular, leaflet, pamphlet, newspaper, paper, booklet, sheet music, or any other printed matter or literature.

B. Vehicles. It shall be unlawful for any person, either directly or indirectly, to distribute, deposit, place, throw, scatter or cast any handbill in or upon any automobile or other vehicle; the provisions of this section shall not be deemed to prohibit the handing, transmitting or distributing of any handbill to the owner or other occupant of any automobile or other vehicle.

C. Private Property. It shall be unlawful for any person, either directly or indirectly, to distribute, deposit, place, throw, scatter, or cast any handbill in or upon any private yard, grounds, walk, porch, steps, mailbox, vestibule, house, residence, building, or any other private property; the provisions of this section shall not be deemed to prohibit the handing, transmitting or distributing of any handbill to the owner or other occupant of said private yard, grounds, walk, porch, steps, mailbox, vestibule, house, residence, building or other private property.

D. Posting Property. It shall be lawful for the owner or the occupant of any property to place a sign in a conspicuous place near the entrance thereof indicating that no handbills are desired; and it shall be unlawful for any person to go upon said premises so posted and distribute, deposit, place, throw, scatter, or cast any handbill.

E. Owner’s Authorization. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to post, stick, stamp, paint or otherwise affix, or cause to be done by another, any notice, placard, bill, poster, or advertisement to or upon any sidewalk, crosswalk, curbing, hydrant, tree, fence, inclosure or building, or upon any telegraph, telephone, or electrical lighting pole, without first obtaining the permission of the owner, agent or occupant thereof.

F. Scattering Samples. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to throw, deposit, place or leave upon any yard, doorstep or porch, or in any store or motor vehicle, any patent medicine or medicines, drugs or medicine of any description, or any sample or samples of any food product or household commodity.

G. Hours of Distribution. It shall be unlawful for any person to distribute any handbill between the hours of 5:00 p.m. of any day and 8:00 a.m. of the following day.

H. Exemptions. The provisions of this section shall not be deemed to apply to the distribution or the delivery of any handbill to any person who has requested or consented to delivery of same. (Code 1971, § 6232)