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Narragansett to require solicitation permits
By Mark N. Schieldrop/Independent Staff Writer
NARRAGANSETT — Citing safety concerns, the Town Council last week approved a new ordinance that will require solicitors to buy a $30 permit and undergo a police background check before hitting the streets.
Police have been responding to an increasing number of complaints about door-to-door salesmen and other solicitation requests in recent years, said Capt. Gerald Driscoll of Narragansett Police.
“The community is concerned about the legitimacy of some of the solicitations, and we’ve gotten a lot of complaints by people about the door-to-door solicitations,” Driscoll said. “The new ordinance will allow us to get a better handle on the situation.”
Historically, solicitors have been able to knock on doors without a permit. Some companies that dispatch solicitors check in with police as a courtesy, which is helpful, Driscoll. But more often than not, police learn about a solicitation campaign only after residents call police with concerns.
“When they come down to the station to let us know they’re in town, that’s a big help for us because we know who’s out there,” Driscoll said. “But the police respond to a number of calls by residents asking who are the people who are going door-to-door.”
With many rental properties left vacant through the winter and break-ins a persistent problem, many residents are suspicious of unknown people walking the streets.
Town Manager Jeffry Ceasrine said that the permit would be required of any solicitation request, even from charities. The fee is similar to the $25 peddler’s fee charged to vendors, like Joe’s Hot Dogs on Narragansett Avenue. The key difference is that peddlers are generally parked in one place and derive their business from walk-up customers.
After paying the $30 fee and getting a background check, a solicitor would be issued a badge that can be clipped onto his or her shirt, identifying who they are and that they have been authorized to solicit.
Driscoll said that residents have the right to put a “no soliciting” sign on their door or window and solicitors will be advised to respect those requests to avoid having their permit revoked.
Complaints about solicitors are common in Narragansett, especially during the summer when many college students take jobs with large companies that dispatch their employees to sell magazine subscriptions and other goods and services.
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