City Council recently adopted amendment’s to the codified ordinances relating to solicitors. The amendment clarified those who would be exempt in needing registration, as well as strengthening the penalty for those who do not adhere to the ordinance.
City ordinances prohibits soliciting without a permit, issued by the North Royalton Police Department. In order to obtain a permit, which is valid for up to ninety days, an application must be made to the Police Department. According to the city’s codified ordinances, “All license applications shall be referred to the Chief of Police who shall, within five days after receipt of the completed application, issue licenses to the solicitors or peddlers unless he or she finds that: The applicant has provided false, misleading or deceptive information in his or her application; and/or the applicant or any solicitor or peddler named on the license application has been convicted of a felony violation or misdemeanor violation involving fraud or moral turpitude within the past five years.” North Royalton Safety Director, Bruce Campbell, background checks for applicants have been done in order to protect residents.
According to the amended ordinance, those that are exempt from having a license are “any person soliciting contributions for, or offering for sale, any goods or publications for any religious, charitable, civic, educational or political organization or candidate.” These will cover organizations, such as Girl/Boy Scouts or booster organizations.
Those issued a permit cannot assign the permit to another and must carry it when in the process of soliciting, canvassing or peddling. According to the standing ordinance, “whoever violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense; for a second offense, such person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree; for a third or subsequent offense, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree. . . A separate offense shall be deemed committed each day during or on which a violation or noncompliance occurs or continues.”
Those residents who do not wish to be a recipient of this activity can sign a registry, that would be given to each person when their permit is obtained. That way, they will receive notification that the addresses listed should not be visited. Those interested in signing the registry can do so on the city’s website www.northroyalton.org. They can also complete an enrollment form available at City Hall or at the North Royalton Police Department.
Residents have an option to prohibit solicitors from knocking on their doors. In addition to the city’s “Do Not Knock” registry, residents can also post a sticker that reads “ No Peddlers Allowed. No Solicitors Allowed.” The stickers, which also show the city seal and post the actual ordinance, are available to all residents. The city established the “Do Not Knock” registry in 2009. The registry acts like the “Do Not Call” list, but for solicitors, canvassers and/or peddlers. The addition of the stickers is “a nice way to round out the program,” said North Royalton Safety Director Bruce Campbell. The stickers are available at City Hall or the Police Department. The stickers are free of charge.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer