Passing Out Flyers Legal?

[Lee Cu]

I am wanting to hand out flyers around town and does anyone know if this is legal or will the gestapo bust me? Here is the ordinance on it but I can't really interpret it. Ii just has the services I offer and contact info.

717.01  DEFINITIONS.    
      
   

     (a)     Person.  "Person" as used in this chapter shall include the singular and the plural and shall also include any person, firm or corporation, association, club, copartnership or society, or any other organization.
   
 
      
   

     (b)      Peddler. "Peddler" as used in this chapter shall  include any person, whether a resident of the City or not, traveling by foot, wagon, automotive vehicle or any other type of conveyance, from place to place, from house to house, or from street to street, carrying, conveying or transporting goods, wares, merchandise, offering and exposing the same for sale, or making sales and delivering articles to purchasers, or taking orders for the purchase of goods, wares, or merchandise by sample, lists or catalogue, or subscriptions for books and magazines. This definition shall not be deemed to include any person who sells or offers or sale any product of his own raising, school, church, fraternal organization fund raising efforts, and shall not include any person(s) engaged in the sale of food products by traveling over regularly established routes and transacting business on private property.
   
      
   

     "Peddler" shall include "hawker", "huckster" and "solicitor".
   
(Ord. 123-1999.  Passed 12-27-99.)

[quarterwave]

Pizza outfits do it all the time, I dount they have a permit. I have not heard of needing one to pass out flyers. I would call the city offices and ask specifically.

[recalljoe]

From the ordinance wording I'd say you're ok to go ahead. I wouldn't draw attention by calling the City - 1) They'll have no clue, so 2) will make up all sorts of hoops to jump through. Just do it, then feign ignorance if anybody complains.

That's my Jeffersonian Conservative / Libertarian slant anyway! 

[misseswigglebottom]

I have called and asked before... It is legal, as long as you are respectful.  do not put in places where no loitering is posted.  You may put on houses or cars, but you must gain permission in parking lots.