Politics & Government
Sorry Salesmen: No Knock Policy Gaining Momentum
Harrison Town Clerk Jackie Greer is working on a registry that could allow Harrison residents to keep solicitors away from their front doors.
From concern, to curiosity to downright frustration, a salesman at the door can bring out a lot of different reactions.
But all of those can be a thing of the past for Harrison residents if the town board approves a "No Knock Registry" currently proposed by Town Clerk Jackie Greer. The registry bans door-to-door solicitors from bringing their sales pitches to residents' front doors if they sign up with the town clerk's office.
If the project sounds familiar, that's because it is. Former Town Clerk Joseph Acocella had been working on a similar registry while in office. Greer submitted a finalized version of the plan to the Harrison Town Board last week and the issue will be brought to a public discussion in the coming weeks.
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The town board will need to approve the new law by a majority vote before solicitors will be banned from homes on the registry. Harrison already has several solicitation regulations and limitations in place, but if approved this would be the first law allowing residents to opt out of most sales solicitations all together.
"We are going to take it to the next level," said Mayor/Supervisor Ron Belmont.
Find out what's happening in Harrisonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Although the registry would prevent most formal for-profit sales pitches, there are several exceptions, according to an early draft of the law. Non-profit charities, volunteer organizations, school-sponsored activities and visits from politicians are some of the exceptions to the ban and those groups would still be allowed to go door-to-door.
If approved, a list of residences on the "No Knock" registry would be handed over to all licensed solicitors once a month. The current proposal would make an unauthorized sales pitch to a home on the no knock registry punishable by a $500 fine and a maximum of 15 days in jail.
Repeat offenders could pay a $1,000 fine and spend another 15 days behind bars.
The new law would also beef up the application process for solicitors. Solicitors would need to apply for a new permit every 30 days and pay a $150 application fee.
(A copy of the early draft on the proposed law is attached)
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