Mayor Yaede and Councilwoman Thornton Join Forces to Propose ‘Do Not
Knock’ Registry and ‘Do Not Drop List’ for Hamilton to Protect Residents from
Unwanted Solicitations
To better help prevent fraud and
dishonest business practices, as well as to help improve residents’ quality of
life by deterring unwanted solicitations, Mayor Kelly Yaede and Councilwoman
Dina Thornton have joined forced to propose a “Do Not Knock” Registry for
Hamilton.
Under the proposal, residents would
be able to request to be on the “Do Not Knock” Registry if they do not desire
to be contacted by legal solicitors, such as various home and property contractors
(sidewalk/concrete, driveways, home remodeling, lawn maintenance or tree
trimming companies), energy companies (third-party providers of electricity
and/gas) or other professions that seek to conduct business door-to-door. However, due to the First Amendment of the
United States Constitution, some activities are protected such as charitable,
religious or political activities.
Any individual who desires to
conduct door-to-door soliciting must be licensed by the Hamilton Township
Municipal Clerk’s Office and submit to a background check.
After notifying the Municipal
Clerk’s Office of their desire to be protected by the “Do Not Knock” Registry,
residents would receive a decal that would be placed on either their front doors
or nearest windows adjacent to their front doors. Residents’ households would remain on the
registry for four years (unless they voluntarily wish to remove themselves from
the protection) at which time they would need to re-register.
Anyone violating the proposed
ordinance would risk penalties of between $50 and $100 for each violation.
After beginning to work on the idea,
Mayor Kelly Yaede discussed details for the initiative with Councilwoman Dina Thornton,
who together are finalizing an ordinance that will be introduced before the
Township Council in the near future.
“I believe that our residents
should have the right, if they desire, to prevent solicitors from approaching
their homes,” says Councilwoman Thornton.
“And as long as we can achieve this in a constitutional way, I feel it
is an added benefit and protection for our families and fellow citizens.”
Also as part of the new proposal, a
“Do Not Drop List” to protect residents from the delivery of unwanted circulars
to their properties, including commercial and non-commercial handbills, leaflets,
coupon brochures, newspapers or other writings. To help facilitate this protection,
after residents notify the Municipal Clerk’s Office of their desire to be on
Hamilton’s “Do Not Drop List”, their property would be listed on the Township’s
website (hard copies would be available upon request). Similar to the “Do Not Knock” Registry, individuals
or businesses would risk penalties of between $50 and $100 for each violation.