Curb Door-to-Door Solicitors in Houston, TX
- par: Residents of Houston, TX
- destinataire: Houston Mayor Anisse Parker and Houston City Council
Have you noticed an increase in door-to-door salespeople in your neighborhood?
Have you also noticed an increase in crime in your neighborhood?
The two just might be related!
Does your subdivision have deed restrictions that prohibit door-to-door solicitors?
Do you think that a Houston Police Officer or Harris County Constable can enforce those deed restrictions?
Think again!
The City of Houston is a magnet for door-to-door solicitors and traveling sales crews from around the country. They target Houston neighborhoods because they are free to operate without any parameters and, as one magazine salesman recently told me as he knocked on my door at 9 p.m., “There’s nothing you can do about it!”
The City of Houston currently has no city ordinance to regulate door-to-door salespeople. The person knocking on your door doesn’t need to have any type of permit, no type of identification, no type of proof that he or she is even an employee of a real company, and nothing to show that he or she is not a convicted felon.
There are two exceptions: charitable organizations and people selling farmer’s produce must obtain a permit from the City of Houston. Two groups I have never seen at my door.
There have been many stories on the news lately about home invasions by criminals posing as (and sometimes even working for) magazine sales companies, alarm companies, and electricity providers. It is so easy for criminals to work under the guise of selling something when they are actually searching for their next victim to open the door. Senior citizens are particularly at risk for this crime.
Rights of certain door-to-door solicitors have been protected by recent rulings of the Supreme Court under the First Amendment. Such groups include religious organizations and political campaigners. However, cities around the country have begun to curb other door-to-door salespeople by creating and enforcing specific city ordinances.
This petition is asking Houston City Council to follow the lead of other cities that have enacted such ordinances to reduce crime and ensure the safety of its citizens.
Such ordinances should include:
-Required permit (for a fee) from the City of Houston for all solicitors and peddlers that expires within a reasonable amount of time
-Required background checks for people seeking donations or selling goods, paid for by solicitor or peddler
-Allow residents to join a “Do Not Knock” list, similar to the National “Do Not Call” Registry
-$500-$1,000 fines for ignoring “no soliciting” signs or “Do Not Knock” list or for not obtaining a permit
-Require all solicitors and peddlers to wear City-issued photo badge with visible permit number so it can be verified by law enforcement and/or residents. Badge to be paid for by solicitors and peddlers
-Enforce sunrise to sunset ordinance, where solicitors may not approach homes when it is dark
Houston City Council Member Mike Sullivan told The Observer, a local paper, that, “I have not received any complaints about door-to-door solicitors in a long time. If residents are concerned about any suspicious activity they see in their neighborhoods, I would urge them to call the Houston Police Department, who will gladly respond.”
However, in the same article, then-HPD Division Capt. B Bennett said:
“Ultimately, there are no laws regulating door to door solicitation, and it is not a criminal offense to do so. We will respond to calls if citizens question the legitimacy of salespeople knocking on doors, but if they are indeed selling goods or services, their rights to do so are protected.”
If you are a resident of the City of Houston, please sign this petition to change the law on door-to-door solicitors and peddlers to make the community safer for everyone. A copy will be sent to The Mayor’s Office and Houston City Council. The goal is 10,000 signatures.
Thank you!
Melissa Law, Houston resident
mbrezik@gmail.com
Malisow, Craig. "What Mainstream Publishers Don't Want You to Know About Door-to-Door Magazine Sales." Houston Press 16 Jul. 2008. 19 Jan. 2012 <http://www.houstonpress.com/2008-07-17/news/what-mainstream-publishers-don-t-want-you-to-know-about-door-to-door-magazine-sales/>.
Thomas, Stefanie. "Police, Deed Restrictions Powerless Against Door-to-Door Solicitors." The Kingwood Observer 22 Dec. 2010. 18 Jan. 2012 <http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/kingwood/news/article_85f3f246-c638-5e8d-bd0d-9217c61519c8.html>.
We the undersigned residents of the City of Houston hereby petition Mayor Anisse Parker and Houston City Council to create and enforce city ordinances to regulate door-to-door solicitors and peddlers.
Except for charitable organizations and sellers of farmer produce, there are currently no city ordinances that govern the activities of door-to-door solicitors and peddlers. Because of this, Houston has become a magnet for traveling sales crews, many of whom employ convicted felons, because its residents are powerless to stop them. Our police officers and constables are incapable of enforcing our neighborhood deed restrictions that prohibit door-to-door solicitations since it is not city law. Even if there are suspicious people going door-to-door, nothing can be done until after a crime has already occurred.
There are always stories in the news of people posing as (or who actually work for) alarm companies, electricity providers, or magazine sales who are involved in armed robberies or home burglaries. We are giving criminals an all-access pass into our neighborhoods and giving them free reign to canvass our homes in search of their next victim!
We understand that certain groups like religious organizations and political campaigners have door-to-door rights that are protected by the First Amendment. However, cities around the country have begun to curb other door-to-door salespeople by creating and enforcing specific city ordinances.
This petition is asking Houston City Council to follow the lead of other cities that have enacted such ordinances to reduce crime and ensure the safety of its citizens.
Such ordinances should include:
-Required permit (for a fee) from the City of Houston for all solicitors and peddlers that expires within a reasonable amount of time
-Required background checks for people seeking donations or selling goods, paid for by solicitor or peddler
-Allow residents to join a Do Not Knock list, similar to the National “Do Not Call” Registry
-$500-$1,000 fines for ignoring no soliciting signs or “Do Not Knock” list or for not obtaining a permit
-Require all solicitors and peddlers to wear City-issued photo badge with visible permit number so it can be verified by law enforcement and/or residents. Badge to be paid for by solicitors and peddlers
-Enforce sunrise to sunset ordinance, where solicitors may not approach homes when it is dark
Thank you for taking the time to read this petition. We hope that you will take it under serious consideration.
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