Comments on: Is the time right for tigher restrictions on door-to-door solicitors? http://www.mysouthborough.com/2009/08/04/is-the-time-right-for-tigher-restrictions-on-door-to-door-solicitors/ News and events in Southborough, MA Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:41:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Matthew Brownell http://www.mysouthborough.com/2009/08/04/is-the-time-right-for-tigher-restrictions-on-door-to-door-solicitors/#comment-4947 Matthew Brownell Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:58:45 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=8838#comment-4947 Kelly, Suggesting that residents need to post their property with "No Trespass" signs is ridiculous. Why should Southborough residents need to festoon the landscape with hundreds of gratuitous and ugly signs? Good God - the last thing this town needs is additional signage. I agree with you that SBRO is a low-crime. And I also agree that we're very much in more danger when we get into a motor vehicles - The roadside litter I picked up during our last "Earth Day" confirms this: 46 1/5 liter bottles of vodka (" Mr. Boston" seem to be the most popular) 3 1/5 liter bottles of Peppermint Schnapps 177 cans of light beer ( Busch & Bud lite) 22 bottles of Mike's Hard Lemonade 14 cans of assorted malt liquor 35 Heineken bottles 1 bottle of Bloody Mary mix Sad that this is the roadside debris accumulated from the same road stretch we cleaned not 6 months before . But I can assure you, DUI is alive and well in MA, and considerably more so than in other states. And YES, thank you . . . I have already called SBRO police in several instances of "Solicitors Who Go Berserk". As I think we have all come to realize, the hands of our police are tied, since our current SBRO ordinance dealing with "solicitors" anemic and useless. I especially like the idea of solicitors being required to fund their own background checks - since we really have **NO** idea who they are whether they have criminal records, or worse - if they pose a known risk to children. Kelly,

Suggesting that residents need to post their property with “No Trespass” signs is ridiculous. Why should Southborough residents need to festoon the landscape with hundreds of gratuitous and ugly signs? Good God – the last thing this town needs is additional signage.

I agree with you that SBRO is a low-crime. And I also agree that we’re very much in more danger when we get into a motor vehicles – The roadside litter I picked up during our last “Earth Day” confirms this:

46 1/5 liter bottles of vodka (” Mr. Boston” seem to be the most popular)
3 1/5 liter bottles of Peppermint Schnapps
177 cans of light beer ( Busch & Bud lite)
22 bottles of Mike’s Hard Lemonade
14 cans of assorted malt liquor
35 Heineken bottles
1 bottle of Bloody Mary mix

Sad that this is the roadside debris accumulated from the same road stretch we cleaned not 6 months before . But I can assure you, DUI is alive and well in MA, and considerably more so than in other states.

And YES, thank you . . . I have already called SBRO police in several instances of “Solicitors Who Go Berserk”. As I think we have all come to realize, the hands of our police are tied, since our current SBRO ordinance dealing with “solicitors” anemic and useless.

I especially like the idea of solicitors being required to fund their own background checks – since we really have **NO** idea who they are whether they have criminal records, or worse – if they pose a known risk to children.

]]> By: Jim http://www.mysouthborough.com/2009/08/04/is-the-time-right-for-tigher-restrictions-on-door-to-door-solicitors/#comment-4846 Jim Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:07:22 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=8838#comment-4846 I hope this proposal also limits the times solicitors can work. Currently, they can go door-to-door from 7am until 30 minutes AFTER sunset. I'd like to see that changed to 9 am until 30 minutes BEFORE sunset. Hats off to Rick Mattioli who drafted this proposal. He does a terrific job fo the Southborough Police Department. I hope this proposal also limits the times solicitors can work. Currently, they can go door-to-door from 7am until 30 minutes AFTER sunset. I’d like to see that changed to 9 am until 30 minutes BEFORE sunset.

Hats off to Rick Mattioli who drafted this proposal. He does a terrific job fo the Southborough Police Department.

]]> By: Kelly Roney http://www.mysouthborough.com/2009/08/04/is-the-time-right-for-tigher-restrictions-on-door-to-door-solicitors/#comment-4838 Kelly Roney Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:40:39 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=8838#comment-4838 Matthew, it's exactly that kind of over-the-top rhetoric that makes me wonder if this is an overreaction. Post your property and call the police if someone trespasses. It is, after all, your yard. But practically speaking, we live in an extremely low-crime area. You're in more danger every time you get into a motor vehicle. Matthew, it’s exactly that kind of over-the-top rhetoric that makes me wonder if this is an overreaction. Post your property and call the police if someone trespasses. It is, after all, your yard. But practically speaking, we live in an extremely low-crime area. You’re in more danger every time you get into a motor vehicle.

]]> By: Matthew Brownell http://www.mysouthborough.com/2009/08/04/is-the-time-right-for-tigher-restrictions-on-door-to-door-solicitors/#comment-4818 Matthew Brownell Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:18:01 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=8838#comment-4818 1) "Free Speech" is not a protected liberty involving trespass on private property 2) Those Southborough single-family homes at the ends of driveways? . . yes, those are private properties. 3) I would be happy to deal with pushy salespeople without the help of the law. What do you suggest? Browning? Beretta? I'm kind of partial to the distinct "Ka-ChukK!!!" sound of a pump-action Mossberg. 4) Political candidates, cub scouts, girl scouts, etc.: all fine, they are welcome and we are happy to support. This pretty much falls under the rubric of "Common Sense", and I am sure there is **plenty** of current ordinance from neighboring towns that we can cut & paste, without re-inventing the wheel. 1) “Free Speech” is not a protected liberty involving trespass on private property
2) Those Southborough single-family homes at the ends of driveways? . . yes, those are private properties.
3) I would be happy to deal with pushy salespeople without the help of the law. What do you suggest? Browning? Beretta? I’m kind of partial to the distinct “Ka-ChukK!!!” sound of a pump-action Mossberg.
4) Political candidates, cub scouts, girl scouts, etc.: all fine, they are welcome and we are happy to support. This pretty much falls under the rubric of “Common Sense”, and I am sure there is **plenty** of current ordinance from neighboring towns that we can cut & paste, without re-inventing the wheel.

]]> By: Kelly Roney http://www.mysouthborough.com/2009/08/04/is-the-time-right-for-tigher-restrictions-on-door-to-door-solicitors/#comment-4802 Kelly Roney Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:17:53 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=8838#comment-4802 A couple of points, not necessarily against: - You can post your property no trespassing now. - Anything related to free speech cannot be restricted by a town bylaw. (That includes me bringing candidates to your door. Don't worry, though. We'll leave you in peace immediately if you ask for that.) - When did it happen that we couldn't deal with pushy salespeople without the help of the law? I'm not sure I see the need for this. A couple of points, not necessarily against:
- You can post your property no trespassing now.
- Anything related to free speech cannot be restricted by a town bylaw. (That includes me bringing candidates to your door. Don’t worry, though. We’ll leave you in peace immediately if you ask for that.)
- When did it happen that we couldn’t deal with pushy salespeople without the help of the law?

I’m not sure I see the need for this.

]]> By: Cindy http://www.mysouthborough.com/2009/08/04/is-the-time-right-for-tigher-restrictions-on-door-to-door-solicitors/#comment-4740 Cindy Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:47:50 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=8838#comment-4740 Well that language seems to clearly allow those non-profit groups like the scouts and church groups access. I think we just need to make sure that some sort of (i.e.) notation gets put on the question/ballot so that people really understand which people it exempts. Well that language seems to clearly allow those non-profit groups like the scouts and church groups access. I think we just need to make sure that some sort of (i.e.) notation gets put on the question/ballot so that people really understand which people it exempts.

]]> By: susan http://www.mysouthborough.com/2009/08/04/is-the-time-right-for-tigher-restrictions-on-door-to-door-solicitors/#comment-4720 susan Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:00:24 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=8838#comment-4720 @Papa Rosa - Here are the relevant bits from the proposed bylaw: <blockquote>Registration shall not be required for officers or employees of the Town, county, state or federal governments when on official business. Individual registration shall not be required for minors under the age of 18 except in connection with for-profit, commercial activity.</blockquote> This is the language from the bylaw that got shot down a few years ago. I believe the Police Department plans to put forth the same language this year, but I'm not positive. @Papa Rosa – Here are the relevant bits from the proposed bylaw:

Registration shall not be required for officers or employees of the Town, county, state or federal governments when on official business.

Individual registration shall not be required for minors under the age of 18 except in connection with for-profit, commercial activity.

This is the language from the bylaw that got shot down a few years ago. I believe the Police Department plans to put forth the same language this year, but I’m not positive.

]]> By: michele http://www.mysouthborough.com/2009/08/04/is-the-time-right-for-tigher-restrictions-on-door-to-door-solicitors/#comment-4717 michele Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:57:23 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=8838#comment-4717 Yes, yes, yes! I want to enjoy my yard without fear of having someone come by to sell me something in a harassing manner. A number of years ago a woman in my home town was murdered by a magazine solicitor. I realize this is an extreme case, and I'm not sure what transpired between this woman and the solicitor, but the point is we shouldn't have to be worried about who is coming to our door. Yes, yes, yes! I want to enjoy my yard without fear of having someone come by to sell me something in a harassing manner. A number of years ago a woman in my home town was murdered by a magazine solicitor. I realize this is an extreme case, and I’m not sure what transpired between this woman and the solicitor, but the point is we shouldn’t have to be worried about who is coming to our door.

]]> By: Anna http://www.mysouthborough.com/2009/08/04/is-the-time-right-for-tigher-restrictions-on-door-to-door-solicitors/#comment-4712 Anna Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:53:45 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=8838#comment-4712 A friend of mine with a no solicitation sign at her front door explained to me that provisions to tighten up solicitation rules did not pass before because people did not want to exclude the locally based groups like scouts. The comments above seem to echo the desire to limit the inappropriate firms while helping legitimate members of our community. Surely we can manage to word any restrictions to address outsider firms while allowing me to get my wreaths and cookies. A friend of mine with a no solicitation sign at her front door explained to me that provisions to tighten up solicitation rules did not pass before because people did not want to exclude the locally based groups like scouts. The comments above seem to echo the desire to limit the inappropriate firms while helping legitimate members of our community. Surely we can manage to word any restrictions to address outsider firms while allowing me to get my wreaths and cookies.

]]> By: Papa Rosa http://www.mysouthborough.com/2009/08/04/is-the-time-right-for-tigher-restrictions-on-door-to-door-solicitors/#comment-4698 Papa Rosa Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:48:04 +0000 http://www.mysouthborough.com/?p=8838#comment-4698 Matthew raises a good point I've wondered about (Susan, maybe you can ask the powers that be for clarification on this): will all nonprofits, including "public interest groups" and churches, be exempt from solicitation laws? None of us (well, very few of us) mind when a neighborhood kid comes around raising money for school or Pop Warner. However, the Kool-Aid Kollege Kids sent around by front groups like MassPIRG are another matter. They, too, can be obnoxious and pushy. What groups are typically exempt from anti-solicitation regs? Matthew raises a good point I’ve wondered about (Susan, maybe you can ask the powers that be for clarification on this): will all nonprofits, including “public interest groups” and churches, be exempt from solicitation laws?

None of us (well, very few of us) mind when a neighborhood kid comes around raising money for school or Pop Warner. However, the Kool-Aid Kollege Kids sent around by front groups like MassPIRG are another matter. They, too, can be obnoxious and pushy.

What groups are typically exempt from anti-solicitation regs?

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