In general, most persons going “door-to-door” in the City must have a permit and an identification badge. Due to recent court decisions and City Code changes, canvassers for some organizations and nonprofit agencies may be exempt from the requirement if their primary purpose is ideologic support rather than financial donations.
Many reputable groups have indicated they will abide by the City’s requirement of prior notification if they plan to solicit or canvass within the City. (See below)
The relevant city code may be reviewed at:
www.takomaparkmd.gov/code/Takoma_Park_Municipal_Code/Title_8/12
License, ID & Hours
All peddlers, transient merchants, and junk or secondhand dealers must first obtain a license. All solicitors must obtain a solicitor’s permit from the City Clerk, except for city residents who are soliciting on behalf of a nonprofit organization or candidate for public office and are not involved in the promotion or sale of commercial goods or property on behalf of a for-profit business enterprise.
Canvassers, licensees and permit holders may conduct business only between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. (except by appointment with a resident).
Police and code enforcement officers may require such persons to show their identification badge and permit upon request. Residents may post a sign (at least 4 x 6 inches) stating “solicitors prohibited” or “solicitors and canvassers prohibited” at their residence or business.
A canvasser may obtain an identification badge but is not required to do so. Anyone conducting canvassing activity that involves the solicitation of money, shall notify the Police Department of the dates they will be conducting such activity within the city, the name of the organization to benefit, the names of the individuals conducting the activity, and the license plate number and state of registration of all vehicles used in connection with the activity.
Definitions
A solicitor is a person who attempts to make personal contact at a residence without a prior appointment for the primary purpose of: attempting to obtain a donation to a nonprofit organization, even if incidental to such purpose there is the sale of some good or service; or distributing a flyer advertising a commercial event, service or product.
A canvasser is a person who attempts to make personal contact without prior specific appointment, for the primary purpose of: attempting to enlist support for or against a particular religion, philosophy, ideology, political party, issue or candidate, even if incidental to such purpose the canvasser attempts to raise money for or against such cause; or distributing a handbill or flyer advertising a non-commercial event or service.
A peddler is a person who attempts to make personal contact, at a residence without prior specific invitation or appointment from the resident, for the primary purpose of attempting to sell a good or service. Generally, a transient merchant is any person, whether or not a resident of the city, who engages in a temporary business of selling and delivering goods, food, wares or merchandise within the city and to do so hires or uses any temporary building, vehicle, street, etc., for showing and selling the merchandise.
TAKOMA PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT
Apr. 14- 20, 2006
Prepared by: Lt. Richard Cipperly. This blotter is not intended to be inclusive of all crime and arrests reported to the Takoma Park Police Department.
Arrests:
On April 17 at 9:50 am in the 7600 block of Piney Branch Road, an adult male was arrested and charged with 2nd degree assault. 06-4377
On April 18 at 12:35 am in the 7600 block of Carroll Avenue, an adult male was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and indecent exposure. 06-4403
Arrests (cont'd):
On April 19 at 5:00 pm in the 7500 block of Maple Avenue, an adult male was arrested on an outstanding Montgomery County warrant for failure to appear in court. 06-4460
On April 19 at 4:50 pm in the 7500 block of Maple Avenue, a criminal citation for theft under $500 was issued to an adult male. 06-4277
Crime Reports
On April 14 at 3:55 am in the 6600 block of Westmoreland Avenue, a 1st degree assault occurred. An adult male and his girlfriend were arguing when the female hit the victim with an unknown sharp object several times causing lacerations and puncture wounds. The victim was treated for non-life threatening injuries at a hospital. Charges are pending. 06-4259
On April 14 at about 7:00 pm in the 7300 block of New Hampshire Avenue, an auto theft occurred. It is unknown what method was used to steal the 2004 Nissan Quest. 06-4287
On April 14, between 6:45 am and 9:20 pm in the unit block of Manor Circle, a residential burglary occurred. The front door was forced open. Property was taken. 06-4292
On April 17, between 5:00 pm and 11:00 pm in the 7600 block of Piney Branch Road, a commercial burglary occurred. The building was entered through an unsecured window. Property was taken. 06-4425
On April 21 at 2:27 am in the 6500 block of New Hampshire Avenue, a commercial burglary was attempted. The front door was damaged in the attempt. 06-4515
End
The AARP Driver Safety course will be offered June 8 & 9, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., at the Takoma Park Community Center. The eight-hour classroom course is being sponsored by the Takoma Park Police and its Community Oriented Policing squad.
The course is open to anyone aged 50 years or older. Those who complete the full class will be awarded a certificate, which may be recognized by their insurance company for an insurance discount.
The AARP Driver Safety Program is designed to sharpen driving skills, compensate for normal age-related changes, and help motorists drive more safely by reducing traffic violations, crashes, and chances for injuries. Typically younger drivers have safety issues related to speed and reckless or impaired driving. Generally, older motorists have problems in driving situations that require quick response, full vision and interaction with other drivers. These will be addressed in the class, taught by an experienced motorist, trained by the AARP. For more information, see: www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety/driver_program
Registration for the course is $10 per person, covering all materials and refreshments. The class will meet in the third-floor Atrium Meeting Room. Registration forms may be obtained at the Takoma Park city building and returned to the Takoma Park Police, COP Team #5, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912. Call 301/891-7124 for more information.
Class size is limited to 20 people, who must be at least 50 years of age (unless registering with someone that age).
Four out of five of AARP graduates say they changed driving behavior as a result of taking the course. More than 700,000 people complete the AARP Driver Safety Program.
TAKOMA PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT
April 7- 13, 2006.
Prepared by: Lt. Richard Cipperly. This blotter is not intended to be inclusive of all crime and arrests reported to the Takoma Park Police Department.
Crime Prevention Tip: Residents observing suspicious behavior should call police immediately to report details related to the behavior and suspects' description, direction of travel and so forth. (See arrest below)
Arrests
On April 8 at 2:22 pm in the 7600 block of Maple Ave., an adult male was arrested and charged with 2nd degree assault after officers responded to a call for a domestic assault. 06-4024
On April 7 at 11:15 pm in the 600 block of Houston Ave., an adult male was arrested and charged with assault after a report of a domestic assault. 06-3999
On April 8 at 1:43 pm in the 1100 block of University Blvd., a criminal citation for theft was issued to an adult male after a merchant reported a shoplifting. 06-4022
Arrests(cont'd):
On April 9 at 2:04 am at the intersection of Flower and Jackson Avenues, an adult male was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired by alcohol and a traffic related charge. 06-4060
On April 10 at 2:00 am in the 7600 block of Maple Avenue, an adult male was charged with possession of burglary tools, two counts of malicious destruction of property and rogue and vagabond. 06-4073
On April 13 at 4:45 pm in the 700 block of Hudson Avenue, a juvenile female was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit theft under $500. 06-4020
Crime Reports
Between April 6 at 1:00 pm and April 7 at 9:00 am in the 7400 block of New Hampshire Avenue, an auto theft occurred. It is unknown what method was used to steal the 1993 Lexus ES300. 06-3974
On April 7, between 9:00 am and 3:45 pm in the 7300 block of Piney Branch Rd., a burglary occurred. A window screen was pried off an unsecured window to gain entry. Property was taken. 06-3991
On April 8 at 3:30 am in the 1300 block of University Blvd., an armed robbery occurred. An adult male was approached by six subjects who demanded money then pushed him to the ground, searched his pockets and removed cash before fleeing on foot. The victim was slightly injured. The subjects were described as black males, 20-25 yrs old, dark complected, wearing black clothing. 06-4008
On April 8, between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm in the 8100 block of Roanoke Ave., an auto theft occurred. It is unknown what method was used to steal the 1994 Mercury GM. 06-4035
Between April 8 at 12:00 pm and April 9 at 5:32 pm in the 8100 block of Flower Ave., an auto theft occurred. It is unknown what method was used to steal the 1997 Ford Thunderbird. 06-4054
On April 12, between 1:00 pm and 11:20 pm in the 7600 block of Flower Avenue, an auto theft was attempted. A window, the ignition and a door lock of the 1999 Saturn were damaged in the attempt. 06-4204
On April 13 at 1:47 pm in the 1300 block of University Blvd., an aggravated assault occurred. An adult male was hit in the head with a glass bottle by a subject he knew after a verbal argument. The subject fled on foot. The victim was taken to a hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. The subject was described as a Hispanic male wearing dark clothing. 06-4224
On April 13 at 10:50 pm in the 700 block of Hudson Avenue, a strong armed robbery occurred. An adult male was standing outside of his home was approached by two subjects who asked him for money. When the victim replied that he had no money, the subjects knocked him to the ground, beat him and searched his pockets, walking away when they could not find anything. The victim was slightly injured. The subjects were described as black males 17-19 years old, wearing dark clothing. 06-4253
End
TAKOMA PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT
Mar. 31- Apr. 6, 2006.
Prepared by: Lt. Richard Cipperly. This blotter is not intended to be inclusive of all crime and arrests reported to the Takoma Park Police Department.
Arrests:
On April 1 at 2:00 am in the 8200 block of Roanoke Avenue, an adult female was arrested and charged with 1st degree assault and reckless endangerment. 06-3710
On April 3 at 11:39 am in the 7600 block of New Hampshire Avenue, an adult male was arrested and charged with trespassing and drinking in public. 06-3808
Arrests (cont'd):
On April 5 at 1:50 pm in the 7500 block of Maple Avenue, an adult male was arrested and charged with four counts each of forgery and uttering and ID theft and one of theft by scheme over $500. 06-2711
On April 3 at 11:39 pm in the 6900 block of Woodland Avenue, an adult male was arrested and charged with theft over $500 and a female juvenile was arrested and charged with possession of CDS paraphernalia. 06-3767
On April 2 at 2:15 pm in the 7500 block of Maple Avenue, an adult male was arrested on an open Montgomery County warrant for failure to appear in court on a charge of theft. 06-3769
Crime Reports
Between March 30 at 9:00 pm and March 31 at 12:00 pm in the 7000 block of Woodland Avenue, an auto theft occurred. It is unknown what method was used to steal the 2002 Toyota Prius. 06-3683
On March 31 at 9:45 pm in the 1400 block of Erskine Street, an armed robbery occurred. An adult male entered his car which was parked in front of his home, when two subjects approached him. One subject demanded he open the locked door and get out of his car while pointing a gun at him. When the victim stepped out of his car, the second subject searched his pockets and removed property. Both subjects fled on foot. The victim was not injured. Both subjects were described as black males, 17-18 years old. One was 5'9", 150 lbs, medium build, medium complexion, black hair, wearing an orange tee shirt and blue jeans. The second was 5'5", 135 lbs, small build, medium complexion, black braided hair, wearing a white tee shirt and blue jeans. 06-3696
On April 2 at 10:16 am in the 7300 block of New Hampshire Avenue, an assault with a firearm occurred. An adult male heard his car alarm go off, saw an unknown subject standing next to his car and yelled at the subject from his apartment window. After the subject motioned the victim over, the victim exited his apartment and while walking toward his car, noticed an older model dark colored Cadillac parked behind his vehicle with two subjects inside. The subject he saw previously exited the Cadillac and pointed a handgun at the victim. The victim immediately ran back into his building. He was not injured. One subject was described as a black male, 20's, 5'5" - 5'8", medium build, wearing a dark jacket and blue jeans. 06-3764
On April 3 at 1:40 am in the 900 block of Merrimack Drive, an armed robbery was attempted. Two masked subjects entered a business, pointed a handgun at two employees struggling with one employee before the employee managed to flee to a back room to call police. The subjects fled with no property. The victims were not injured. The subjects were described as black males, 5'8" to 6', 155 lbs to 165 lbs. medium build, one wearing blue jeans, black jacket and a black mask. The other was wearing a black jacket and black pants. 06-3788
Between April 2 at 10:00 pm and April 3 at 5:30 am in the 7700 block of Maple Avenue, an auto theft occurred. It is unknown what method was used to steal the 1990 Infiniti Q45. 06-3793
Between April 3 at 6:30 pm and April 4 at 7:00 am in the 7500 block of Maple Avenue, an auto theft occurred. It is unknown what method was used to steal the 1996 Jeep Cherokee. 06-3849
End
On Sunday, April 9, 2006, Columbia Union College and the City of Takoma Park are sponsoring the annual Taste of Takoma event at the college in the 7600 block of Flower Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland.
The roadway will be closed and traffic will be detoured from 11:00 A.M. to 7 P.M.
Eastbound traffic on Flower Avenue (heading from Piney Branch toward Carroll Avenue) will be detoured left onto Maplewood Avenue, then right onto Greenwood Avenue and back out to Carroll Avenue.
Westbound Flower Avenue (heading from Sligo Creek toward Piney Branch) must turn right onto Carroll and in one block turn left onto Greenwood, then turning left onto Maplewood Avenue to Flower.
Questions should be referred to Cpl. Tina Smith at 301/270-1100 on the day of the event.