ORDINANCE #217
REGULATING SOLICITATION
IN THE CITY OF
NEWTON, MISSISSIPPI
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Newton, Mississippi have a central purpose of preserving and protecting the health, safety and welfare of the general public;
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Newton, Mississippi find that it is in the best interests of the City and its citizens and will promote the public health, safety and welfare of the general public to establish an ordinance to regulate any type of solicitation along the streets and roadways of the City;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND BOARD OF
ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF NEWTON AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. DEFINITIONS
The following words and phrases in this section shall have the meanings given, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
SOLICITATION OR SOLICIT: to request money or anything of value as a donation or contribution while standing, sitting, or positioned in any manner on any road, street, highway median, traffic island or highway intersection; or to request any other thing of value while standing, sitting or positioned in any manner on any road, street, highway median, traffic island or highway intersection.
SOLICITATION PERMIT: a form issued by the City as proof that the person or group is authorized to solicit in accordance with this Ordinance.
SECTION 2. SOLICITATION AUTHORIZED BY PERMIT ONLY
It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit in the City of Newton without a solicitation permit issued by the City specifying the date, time and location of the solicitation. It shall further be unlawful for any person to create or otherwise design a solicitation permit without the authority or permission of the City and to use or allow use of the document for the purpose of solicitation in violation of this Ordinance.
Any person that is found to be in violation of this Ordinance shall upon conviction be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00), imprisoned not more than ninety (90) days in the county jail, or both.
SECTION 3. PERMIT APPLICATION AND GENERAL STANDARDS
A. PERMIT REQUIREMENTS. Before any person may engage in solicitation activities in the City of Newton, such person must first apply for and receive a permit from the City of Newton. All such applicants shall submit a written application to the City of Newton on a form provided by the City of Newton for a solicitation permit. The application shall contain the following information:
I. The name, mailing address, physical address, telephone number(s), and email address of the applicant.
2. The proposed date and time of solicitation.
3. The purpose for the proposed solicitation.
4. The number of individuals planned to be used for solicitation activities.
5. If individuals under the age of 18 are being used to solicit, certification that said individuals will be supervised by an adult.
B. GENERAL STANDARDS.
In addition to the written application, an applicant and any individuals that will solicit on behalf of said individual shall be bound by the following terms and conditions:
I. No solicitor may impede traffic at any time;
2. All solicitors must enter or remain in a roadway, street or thoroughfare only while the controlling traffic signal or stop sign prohibits vehicular movement;
3. All solicitors must remain within one hundred (100) feet of or from the intersection approved under the permit;
4. All solicitations shall occur during daylight hours only;
5. Solicitation activities shall not interfere with the safe and efficient movement of traffic and shall not cause danger to the participants or the public;
6. No person engaging in solicitation activities shall persist after solicitation has been denied, act in a demanding or harassing manner, or use any sound or voice amplifying apparatus or device;
7. Each permit shall allow solicitation only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and I :00 p.m. and;
8. Only one (I) permit shall be issued for an intersection on any given day. Permits will be issued on a first-come basis to those applicants who submit a completed application form.
C. FEES.
The fee for each solicitation permit shall be $25.00 payable to the City of Newton.
D. DESIGNATION OF AREA FOR SAFE SOLICITATION.
The City of Newton does hereby designate the intersection of Highway 15 and Highway 80 within the city limits of Newton at the four-way stop as the only intersection at which solicitations shall be allowed within the City of Newton.
.E. BOARD APPROVAL REQUIRED FOR ISSUANCE OF SOLICITATION PERMIT.
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen shall at the next meeting following the filing of an application for permit consider the application for solicitation and determine whether to approve or deny the application.
THIS ORDINANCE GOES INTO EFFECT THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER ITS PASSAGE, THE PUBLIC INTEREST REQUIRING THAT IT BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWTON COUNTY APPEAL AS REQUIRED BY LAW. THIS ORDINANCE ADOPTED IN REGULAR MEETING.
THIS THE 7th DAY OF October 2025.
Jay Powell, Mayor
Charlene Evans, City Clerk
Publication Date: October 22, 2025
