City tightens up on transient vendors|[2/7/06]

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, February 7, 2006

Transient vendors will face tighter restrictions when they sell their merchandise in Vicksburg, the City Board decided Monday.

The city ordinance defines transient businesses as being conducted for the sale of merchandise or services at a particular location for less than six months in each year.

Under the guidelines of the ordinance, transient vendors will be required to purchase a license and submit a bond, which are the requirements in state law. The city ordinance also mandates that transient businesses operate on property zoned for commercial use and forbids the operation of a transient business on the property of an existing business.

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Mayor Laurence Leyens said transient businesses sometimes operate in locations that should be clear to protect the view of drivers.

&#8220My personal issue with it, other than the fact I get a ton of complaints about it, is it’s visually very difficult sometimes,” Leyens said. &#8220It creates a hazard in navigation in the community.”

South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman said it is important for the city to keep track of transient businesses because some are involved in such illegal activity as the sale of stolen merchandise.

Leyens said the ordinance does not apply to farmers selling produce from trucks or nonprofit organizations.