DECATUR -- If you are an ice cream vendor or door-to-door sales person, take heed. A new ordinance will soon affect the way you do business within the city limits of Decatur.
The new ordinance requires ice cream truck vendors and door-to-door sales persons to have a city of Decatur business license, Arkansas state tax identification number, valid driver's license for each driver and a valid addresses and phone numbers for each vendor's place of business.
Ice cream truck vendors must be 18 or older and provide proof of insurance. In addition, each driver must summit to a background check for a fee of $5, payable to the Decatur Police Department, before a permit will be issued.
All operations of an ice cream truck must follow the new law which also stipulates the following:
- No vending before 10 a.m. or 30 minutes after sunset.
- No vending on streets where the speed limit exceeds 30 mph.
- No vending to a person in the roadway.
- All vending must be from the right side of the truck.
- No vending within 500 feet of a school when school is in session.
The city council passed the ordinance June 8 during its regular meeting at City Hall. The new law will go into effect July 24.
The law comes at the request of Terry Luker, Decatur chief of police. Luker asked for the ordinance to protect the citizens of Decatur against sex offenders and other scam artists. The Decatur Police Department plans to strictly enforce the ordinance, including levying fines of $500 for each violation.
For more information on the law or to obtain a copy, contact the Decatur Police Department at 752-3911.
General News on 06/24/2015