Councilman warns residents about unlicensed vendors
March 13th, 2014 by Ric Hanson
A recent alleged incident involving a door-to-door salesman in Atlantic, has one Atlantic City Councilman warning residents to make sure vendors have a valid Solicitor’s, Peddler’s or Transient Merchant License. During Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting, Councilman Chris Jimerson said he saw a posting by a resident on Facebook about the alleged incident, during which the vendor was said to have been “Extremely rude.”
He says he had the City Clerk’s Office look into whether the vendor, who was selling steaks door-to-door, had a valid license to do so. It turns out they didn’t. Scouts or other such non-profit groups don’t need a permit, according to Jimerson. He says if someone comes to your door and they do not have a permit, call the Police Department so they can handle the situation.
According to City Code Chapter 122, any person engaging in peddling, soliciting or in the business of a transient manner in the City without first obtaining a license (by paying a $50 fee), is in violating of the law. Exemptions include: Newspaper subscription collectors, members of local civic groups or service organizations, farmers or gardeners who sell their products they have grown, students, and route salespersons.
Councilman Dana Halder said he received a scam phone call recently, and people need to be aware of something sounds suspicious or too good to be true, it probably is, and you should notify authorities, especially if the caller is harassing or threatening you.