http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2009/03/door-to-door_soliciting_rules.php
Door-to-Door Soliciting Rules Proposed by Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio
By Ray Stern in News Thursday, Mar. 26 2009 @ 1:56PM
It's kind of creepy:
There's a sudden knock at the door. You check to see who it is -- and it turns out to be someone trying to save your soul.
Or maybe they just want to sell you something. Either way, you wonder if they would have tried the door and maybe burglarized the place, had you not answered.
Sal DiCiccio, the recently installed city councilman, wants to come up with a solution. He's instructed his staff to come up with ideas for an ordinance dealing with door-to-door soliciting.
DiCiccio says in a news release (see below) that the ordinance would be designed to give homeowners "greater protection" against thieves. Councilman Claude Mattox seems to be leaning toward a regulatory solution, claiming in the release that hordes of criminals are coming from other states and using soliciting as a ruse to rob people.
A Google search shows some cities have such ordinances. Fort Collins, Colorado, has one that requires a "no soliciting" or "no trepassing" sign to be posted at the home. The Town of Gilbert reportedly has an ordinance prohibiting knocking on the door or ringing the bell at someone's home if they have a no-soliciting sign posted, but fliers left by (apparently legitimate) solicitors are still a problem.
The problem with such enacting such rules is that the First Amendment often gets in the way -- are they selling something, or suggesting donations could be given to "the cause?"
Arizona already has a "no trespassing" sign law. Put one of those babies up and you can have news reporters convicted of criminal charges or even legally blow someone's head off, in certain situations. Unfortunately, says DiCiccio, the law still allows folks to walk up your door and knock on it, unless the sign is on a gate that blocks access to a house's door.
The inevitable, publicity-drawing debate may be an underlying reason for DiCiccio to capitalize on the issue -- but DiCiccio tells New Times that's not the case (getting a bit ticked when we raise the question), saying this is an issue that cops and community members have voiced concern about. "These aren't the Fuller Brush people," he says, giving the same line to the Arizona Republic.
DiCiccio says his motivation for bringing up the idea for an ordinance is also personal:
"I guy came to my door, said he lived in my neighborhood," he relates. "I asked him some specific questions. He was basically lying."
DiCiccio told the man he was going to call police, provoking a slew of angry cussing from the man, who then walked away.
Asked what kind of ideas might end up being floated, DiCiccio casually mentions that one option would be a form of registration. Who would be registered? We ask. "Everyone" that goes door-to-door, he answered.
Asked if that meant registering Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, DiCiccio tries to turn the tables, asking New Times if we're advocating such a plan.
"You need anything else?" he asks testily. Whoops. Time to go.
No doubt, the city will leave plenty of legal elbow room for door-to-door proselytizers, Girl Scouts and other socially accepted solicitors. But that could mean an ineffective ordinance.
For now, homeowners could try something like the humorous sign at the top of this post, or maybe a more involved message (click image for closer view):
DiCiccio's news release follows:
Councilman DiCiccio Proposes Citywide Solicitation Ordinance
Councilman Sal DiCiccio is proposing city officials adopt a citywide ordinance on door-to-door solicitation. DiCiccio recently submitted a memo to Councilman Claude Mattox, chair of the Phoenix City Council Public Safety and Veterans Subcommittee, requesting the item be added to the April meeting's agenda.
"My office has been contacted by numerous residents, as well as police officers in my district, requesting that we consider implementing such as ordinance," said DiCiccio. "The ordinance would increase public safety by offering homeowners greater protection against individuals or groups using solicitation as a means of executing property crimes."
"Solicitation has become a serious problem in the city of Phoenix," said Mattox. "A large number of these solicitors are coming from out of state and using solicitation as a means of gaining access to residents' homes. We are starting to address this issue now so that our communities are protected from these crimes of opportunity."
DiCiccio's office along with city staff are working to assemble a task force, including neighborhood leaders, members of faith-based groups, other nonprofits and the Police Department, to study ordinances that other cities have in place against solicitation.
For more information or to submit feedback on the proposed ordinance, contact the District 6 Office at 602-262-7491.
A COMMENT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
Anonymous says:
DOOR-KNOCKING THIEVES, RAPISTS, and MURDERERS.
On November 13, 2006, an African-American male and a Caucasian male, both in their mid-20s, knocked on the door of a home in Port Charlotte, Florida. Reportedly carrying Bibles, the two males identified themselves as "Jehovah's Witnesses" to the responding male homeowner. The two "JWs" reportedly were allowed to enter the home -- probably at their request, but possibly at the homeowner's invitation. After a brief exchange of conversation, the homeowner stated that he was not interested, and the "JWs" left.
Shortly thereafter, the homeowner was startled by the sound of breaking glass at the rear of his house. When he went to see what had happened, he was accosted and struck by the African-American "JW". The now three home-invaders used a stun gun to subdue the homeowner. After tying him up, the Trio ransacked the home, before eventually leaving with roughly $4000.00 in cash and electronics.
The Trio were eventually arrested for that home invasion robbery, and similar crimes, and were identified as members of a local area gang that specialized in home invasions. Those same three members of the gang reportedly had been repeatedly "casing" multiple homes as potential targets by using the ruse that they were "Jehovah's Witnesses".
Does anyone really believe that those mid-20s males would call at multiple home pretending to be JWs, where they apparently were discussing JW beliefs with homeowners, unless one or more of the thieves had a background as a door-knocking Jehovah's Witness?
In fact, only three months later, in Tallahassee, Florida, on Sunday morning, February 25, 2007, two "well-dressed" males carrying Bibles, and identifying themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses, barged into the home of a man getting ready for church. This Duo also bound and robbed their victim.
Over the years there have been several similar crimes reported in the news media. Some of such crimes were committed by criminals who may not have had a JW background, but rather had simply observed that posing as JWs was an ideal way to gain entry into victims' homes.
For example, there have been multiple instances over the years in which criminals posed as a JWs, but did a very poor job of doing so. In 1995, in Philadelphia, four males posing as JWs gained the confidence of a young home-alone female, and robbed and assaulted her. In 1992, a Sheriff in Pennsylvania had to issue a warning to
residents of his county due to repeated instances of persons posing as JWs, but who supposedly were not behaving at the doors as JWs typically behaved. Other instances have involved easily fooled extremely elderly victims, such as the 89 year-old Birmingham, Alabama man robbed in 2001 by a man posing as a JW, and the 77 year-old south Chicago woman robbed and murdered in 1994 by a 19 year-old female and a juvenile female who posed as Jehovah's Witnesses in order to gain entry into the elderly woman's apartment.
However, there are other instances where the media report provides details that suggest that the perpetrators more likely than not had a background and prior experience as a door-knocking JW, such as in the above instance where the perpetrators reportedly had used the ruse
repeatedly, and would even enter peoples' homes to discuss JW teachings in order to "case" potential victims. Some others include:
On a Sunday afternoon, at around 3:30 P.M., in July 1989, in New Jersey, a "well-dressed" man and woman knocked on the door of a 67 year-old male homeowner and identified themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses. When the homeowner told the couple that he was "not interested", the man pulled a handgun, forced their way into the home, and proceeded to rob the homeowner.
In May 1997, in Hartford, Connecticut, in what may have been a crime of opportunity, a home-alone obviously pregnant 16 year-old girl was raped inside her parents' apartment after she opened the door for a heavy-set, eyeglasses and dark-suit wearing man, who identified himself as a Jehovah's Witness.
In January 1992, in Florida, a man and woman, along with a baby, identified themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses at the door of an elderly couple who themselves turned out also to be JWs. After entering and exchanging conversation for a short while, the man asked to use the couple's bathroom. The elderly couple eventually discovered the "JW" rummaging through their house. After the Trio fled, the elderly couple discovered their cash missing.
On a weekday afternoon in January 1999, in Durham, North Carolina, a man and woman identifying themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses were allowed inside by a 59 year-old female homeowner. After conversing for a short while, one of the Duo asked for a glass of water. The homeowner obliged. After the Duo left, the homeowner discovered $600.00 missing from her purse.
On a Monday afternoon, in October 1997, in New Jersey, two women identifying themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses called at the door of a 41 year-old female homeowner. When she opened her door, one of the two
women pulled a handgun and proceeded to rob her.
Posted On: Friday, Mar. 27 2009 @ 10:30AM