Section 21-111. Soliciting of contributions in public

a.  It shall be
  unlawful  for  any  person,  organization,   society,   association   or
  corporation  or  their  agents  or  representatives  to  solicit  money,
  donations of money or property, or financial assistance of any kind upon
  the streets, in office or business buildings, by house to house canvass,
  or in public places in the city, except upon a  license  issued  by  the
  commissioner  and  an  identification  card issued by the chairperson or
  district chairperson of any charitable drive and any such regulations as
  hereinafter provided.
    b. Application to solicit funds for any cause whatever as provided for
  in this  section  shall  be  addressed  to  the  commissioner  and  such
  application shall contain the following information:
    1. Name and purpose of the cause for which permission is sought.
    2.   Names  and  addresses  of  the  officers  and  directors  of  the
  organization.
    3. Time for which permission is sought and localities  and  places  of
  solicitation.
    4. Whether or not any commissions, fees, wages or emoluments are to be
  expended in connection with such solicitation.
    5. Such other information as the commissioner shall require.
    c.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  commissioner,  before  granting
  permission to solicit  funds  or  donations  as  provided  for  in  this
  section,  to  compel  the  applicant  to  file  with him or her a signed
  statement of all moneys collected in the calendar  year  or  the  fiscal
  year  of such organization, society, association or corporation previous
  to the application, the expenditures connected therewith, together  with
  the  names  and addresses of all persons receiving wages, commissions or
  emoluments and the amounts so expended.
    d. The commissioner may establish such regulations as he  or  she  may
  deem necessary in effectuating the purposes and objects of this section.
    e.  Licensees operating under this section shall be compelled to label
  all collection boxes or containers used in  the  solicitation  of  funds
  either by appeal in person or the placing of receptacles for the receipt
  of  such  public  contributions  in  stores,  factories, shops, offices,
  theatres, hotels, restaurants, railway stations, ferry houses, or  other
  public places, with the name of the organization for which the permit is
  issued,  and  in such conspicuous manner as the commissioner may direct.
  In addition, where the solicitation of funds is by appeal in person  and
  where  the solicitor receives no compensation for such solicitation, the
  box or container shall bear on it the word "volunteer" in a  conspicuous
  place.  Any  solicitor  receiving compensation for such solicitation who
  uses a box or container bearing the word "volunteer" shall be subject to
  a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a period
  not to exceed thirty days or both.
    f. Any person or persons who shall violate any of  the  provisions  of
  this  section,  upon  conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of
  not more than five hundred dollars, or  by  imprisonment  not  exceeding
  ninety days, or by both.
    g.  The  provisions of this section shall not apply to any corporation
  organized under the religious corporations law; nor to  solicitation  at
  the  regular  exercises  or  services  of any lodge, benevolent order or
  fraternity, or any branch thereof, whenever such solicitation is made at
  the regularly appointed  meetings  and  regular  places  of  worship  or
  exercises of such lodge, order or fraternity.