County Issues First Peddlers Permit since Ordinance Adopted in 2014

On Tuesday, Dec 9, 2014, the Stephens County Board of Commissioners adopted an ordinance regulating peddlers and door-to-door salespeople. 

Chapter 22, Article III of the Stephens County Code was added following that vote, requiring All solicitors or canvassers to purchase a permit from the Stephens County Probate Judge. Processing of the permit application includes a criminal background check of the applicant.

Yesterday, June 26, nearly 10 years after the adoption of that regulation, Stephens County Probate Court Judge Glenda Ernest contacted WNEG News to advise that the county received, and approved, the first application for the peddlers permit since that adoption.

Ernest advised that Dante Vidaurri, a student at Texas A&M University, has undergone the required background check and purchased the peddler’s permit from the county to allow him to engage in door-to-door sales within Stephens County. A photo of Vidaurri and his vehicle is attached to this story on wnegradio.com. Vidaurri has advised that the vehicle he is using while conducting business is a black 2016 Nissan Frontier with Texas plates. 

According to information provided by Vidaurri, he is in his fourth year as a summer intern employee with Southwestern Advantage, which is an education material sales company based in Nashville, Tennessee, that recruits college and university students as independent contractors to sell educational books, apps, and website subscriptions door-to-door using direct selling methods.

In a post on his Facebook page, Vidaurri states, “Since I am going door-to-door & it has its reputation, I am trying to be laid back and compliant when meeting families at their doorstep. If you are busy or not interested, then just let me know and I will give my best to leave you in a good mood! My priority is to treat every family as I wish someone would treat my parents at their doorstep.”

Vidaurri has also been issued a peddler’s permit in Banks County.