Transient vendors in City of Twin Falls must carry a city license

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — After receiving concerns from citizens, the City of Twin Falls is reminding citizens that all transient vendors—including door-to-door salespeople—must carry a city-issued license.

“Like most cities, we require transient vendors or door to door salespeople to acquire a license from the city,” city spokesperson Josh Palmer said.

If someone knocks on your door trying to sell something, the City of Twin Falls is encouraging citizens to ask to see a copy of their vendor license.

“They’re supposed to carry it on their person at all times, so when they’re doing door to door sales, and if they don’t have a copy of the transient vendor license them, we encourage them to contact the police department,” Palmer said.

According to the Twin Falls City Code, a vendor license should be exhibited upon request by a police officer or citizen, and “if any section of this code is violated, the general penalty is a fine of up to $1,000 and or up to 6 months in jail.”

A press release from the Twin Falls Police Department stated in part quote:

“We’re seeing more door-to-door sales because we are a growing community. although most vendors are legitimate and acting with the best of intentions, it’s not uncommon for someone to be conducting fraudulent activities.”

“We do that to protect citizens and property. The licenses are essentially a background check that we do on the applicant, that’s why we ask them to come in, they’re fingerprinted, we run them through a nationwide background check, and that’s to ensure that the people that are going door to door in our community are safe.

The only exceptions to the nationwide background check are nonprofit organizations, but for any peddler, solicitor, transient, or vendor, you must go to city hall to request an application.

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