<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<baltimore-city-law heading="§ 19-3 Standards for vending boxes.">
  <section prefix="§" num="19-3" heading="Standards for vending boxes.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">Any newspaper vending box which rests in whole or in part upon, in, or on any portion of a public right-of-way in the downtown area or which projects onto, into, or over any part of a public right-of-way in the downtown area, shall comply with the standards set forth in this section.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Maximum dimensions.">
      <para num="(1)">No newspaper vending box shall exceed 60 inches in height, 30 inches in width, and 24 inches in depth.</para>
      <para num="(2)">Where the volume of newspaper sales or the bulk of the particular publication being sold warrants, double boxes or additional boxes at the same location are permitted.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Unrelated commercial advertising prohibited.">No commercial advertising signs or material other than those dealing with the name of the publication contained within the newspaper vending box or anything related to the information conveyed by that publication shall be displayed on the outside of any newspaper vending box.</para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Coin-return mechanism required.">Each newspaper vending box shall be equipped with a coin-return mechanism to permit a person using the machine to secure immediate refund in the event he is unable to receive the publication for which he has paid.  The coin-return mechanism shall be maintained in good working order.</para>
    <para num="(e)" heading="Posted name and telephone number.">Each newspaper vending box shall have affixed to it in a readily visible place, so as to be seen by anyone using the newspaper vending box, a notice setting forth:<para num="(1)">the name of the distributor; and</para>
      <para num="(2)">the telephone number of a working telephone service to call:<para num="(i)">to report a malfunction;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">to secure a refund in the event of a malfunction of the coin return mechanism; or</para>
        <para num="(iii)">to give the notices provided for in this subtitle.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(f)" heading="Maintenance.">
      <para num="(1)">Each newspaper vending box shall be maintained in a neat and clean condition and in good repair at all times.</para>
      <para num="(2)">Specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each newspaper vending box shall be serviced and maintained so that:<para num="(i)">it is reasonably free of dirt and grease;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">it is reasonably free of chipped, faded, peeling, and cracked paint in the visible, painted areas thereof;</para>
        <para num="(iii)">it is reasonably free of rust and corrosion in the visible, unpainted metal areas thereof;</para>
        <para num="(iv)">the clear plastic or glass parts thereof, if any, through which the publications therein are viewed are unbroken and reasonably free of cracks, dents, blemishes, and discoloration;</para>
        <para num="(v)">the paper or cardboard parts of inserts thereon are reasonably free of tears, peeling, or facing; and</para>
        <para num="(vi)">the structural parts thereof are not broken or unduly misshapen.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 15, §124</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 86-859</annotation>
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
