Council says ice-cream sellers must pass background checks

ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Ice cream vendors will soon have to pass criminal background checks to sell treats in Tucson, now that the City Council voted unanimously to require those checks.

By April 1, vendors will have to have pass a fingerprint and background check before being allowed to ply their trade.

The city currently has no restrictions on who can sell ice cream from vehicles.

Councilman Steve Leal asked the council to require fingerprints and criminal background checks to protect children from potentially being molested. Applicants would have to provide their fingerprints every year to the Tucson Police Department, which would conduct the check.

The license would be denied if the applicant had been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor sexual offense in the past five years. Also, if the applicant was ever convicted of an offense requiring registration as a sexual offender, the license would be denied.

A license valid for one year will cost vendors about $50, and they will also pay about $29 for the background check.