§ 15½-14. Prohibition of right-of-way canvassers and solicitors on certain roadways.

1.

Findings; purpose; intent.

a.

The City Commission of Coral Springs desires to adopt an ordinance restricting right-of-way canvassers and solicitors to certain streets and roadways located in the city because such canvassers and solicitors pose a danger to themselves and the public at large by interfering with the safe and normal flow of vehicle traffic.

b.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 2010 Florida Traffic Crash Statistics Report, seven thousand eight hundred ninety-four (7,894) crashes were reported involving pedestrians, seven thousand two hundred ninety (7,290) resulted in injury and four hundred ninety-nine (499) pedestrians were killed.

c.

Numerous types of right-of-way canvassers and solicitors may seek to operate within the City of Coral Springs. Right-of-way canvassers and solicitors include but are not limited to children, adolescents, and adults who seek to collect money for school and community activities; vendors who sell fruit, flowers, newspapers, and other products; people who seek donations and/or the distribution of paper or other items.

d.

Right-of-way canvassers and solicitors approach motorists and passengers while the motor vehicle is engaged in travel on roads and are particularly susceptible to serious bodily injury or death due to the speed and number of motorists who operate vehicles on busy roads of the city.

e.

Roads are primarily designed for vehicular traffic and are not suited to safely accommodate right-of-way canvassers and solicitors.

f.

The presence of right-of-way canvassers and solicitors interferes with the safe movement and normal flow of traffic.

g.

There are sixty-nine (69) full color traffic lights within the city.

h.

It is the intention of the city commission to use the least restrictive means to advance the significant governmental interests of traffic safety and public safety.

i.

It is the finding of the city commission that other alternative, and safer, channels of communication exist other than right-of-way canvassing and solicitation for a person or people who seek to exercise their First Amendment freedoms, such as, but by no means limited to, mail solicitation for donations, or delivery of literature, distribution of literature or solicitation for donations at other locations (such as homes, places of worship, businesses, shopping areas, news and magazine racks, special events, and any other place not prohibited by law); the distribution or sale of newspapers or other literature through the use of home or business delivery, vending machines, and retail stores; and the sale of goods and services at retail stores, through the internet, and from vending machines.

j.

The city commission desires to protect and preserve the safety and quality of life of its residents and those who use the streets within the city, both pedestrians and motorists alike.

k.

The city commission has reviewed the proposed regulations provided by this section and finds that such regulations accomplish the intended purposes while utilizing the least restrictive means possible.

l.

It is the intention of the city commission that this subsection is applied even handledly to all right-of-way canvassers and solicitors, regardless of right-of-way canvasser and solicitor's purpose and/or message.

m.

It is the intention of the city commission that nothing in this section shall prohibit a person from engaging in other lawful activity or speech on the sidewalks in and around intersections, so long as that person or people are not right-of-way canvassers and/or solicitors and comply with all other state and local laws.

n.

The city commission finds that it is in the best interests of the residents of the city to adopt this subsection.

2.

Prohibited roadways. It shall be unlawful for any person to act as a right-of-way canvasser and/or solicitor at or within two hundred (200) feet from the lateral curb or boundary line of any intersection located at the follow roadways:

a.

Sample Road and University Drive;

b.

Royal Palm Blvd and University Drive;

c.

Sample Road and 441;

d.

Wiles Road and 441;

e.

Atlantic Blvd and University Drive;

f.

Riverside Drive and University Drive;

g.

Sample Road and Coral Springs Drive;

h.

Sample and Coral Ridge Drive;

i.

Sample Road and Riverside Drive;

j.

Sample Road and Rock Island Road;

k.

Sample Road and NW 62nd Avenue;

l.

Wiles Road and University Drive;

m.

Wiles Road and Riverside Drive;

n.

Wiles Road and Coral Springs Drive;

o.

Wiles Road and Coral Ridge Drive.

3.

There shall be no license requirement for a right-of-way canvasser or solicitor.

4.

A violation of this section shall be a one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) fine.

(Ord. No. 2013-127, § 3, 12-18-13)