Residents may have chance to deny home solicitation
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

Freehold Borough

FREEHOLD - Most people are aware of a "no call" list implemented by the federal government to help people avoid unwanted telephone solicitations. Now there is a proposal for a "no knock" list in Freehold Borough.

An amendment to the borough's solicitor and canvasser ordinance was unanimously introduced at the Borough Council's Oct. 2 meeting to bring it into compliance with a recent court ruling involving a similar law in another municipality. It further provides for a non-solicitation list by which no soliciting or canvassing may take place at any home that is on the list.

A public hearing for the ordinance and a vote on its adoption is scheduled for the council's Nov. 6 meeting.

Councilman Marc Le Vine said he started thinking about a "no knock" list after a resident told the council that people in her neighborhood were being bothered by solicitors. Sheryl Mott, of First Street, had informed the council that her neighbors were being harassed by people who were trying to buy their homes for cash.

Le Vine said, "I realized the whole issue of solicitation could be addressed by bringing in an ordinance that other municipalities had already passed. This is another tool against slumlord blockbusters in our neighborhoods.

"Our no-knock ordinance nicely complements the government's no-call list, which bars telemarketers from annoying people during their family time. We have no problem with people coming into our town and knocking on our doors as long as residents want that.

"Those that do not can now place themselves on a list and solicitors will pass them by. Often, we don't know who many of these people really are or what they're selling or, in the case of slumlord blockbusters, sometimes even pressuring to buy. Some people worry about what their intentions are," Le Vine explained.

A commercial solicitor, canvasser, peddler or hawker is defined in the ordinance as one "traveling by foot, automobile or any other type of conveyance from place to place, house to house, or street to street, to distribute circulars for business or commercial purposes."

Other approaches include selling real property, taking orders for the sale of goods or personal property, or for services. Any person taking a poll or a survey from house to house or on the streets, or distributing advertisements or handbills is also included.

A section also addresses charitable and political canvassing.

"Anyone going from house to house to interview, interact or inform another person or persons in an attempt to convince him or her to embrace or support or vote for a proposition, person, candidate, philosophy, idea, concept or organization" is also included in the ordinance.

The amendment will require anyone who wants to canvass or solicit in the borough to first obtain a license, unless they have already obtained a charitable solicitor or canvasser's permit. Persons engaged in political, charitable or philanthropic canvassing will need to first obtain a permit.

Every applicant for a license must pay $100 to the Borough Clerk. Those who are applying for permits will not be required to pay the $100 license fee, but will need to pay a one-time processing fee of $10 for administrative costs.

In addition to obtaining a license or a permit, every applicant will be required to wear a photo identification badge which will identify the person as a licensed commercial solicitor. All canvassing or soliciting must take place between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

The Borough Clerk will prepare a list of addresses of those premises where the owner and/or occupant has notified the clerk that canvassing and soliciting is not permitted on the premises. The clerk must provide the non-solicitation list to all applicants who are seeking a license or permit for commercial, charitable, political or philanthropic solicitation.

Anyone found to be violating the law will have his license or permit revoked and if convicted, will be subject to a penalty not to exceed $1,250 or imprisonment for 90 days.