I put up a sign next to my doorbell that says "No Solicitors" but I still have people leaving papers on my door and knocking on the door almost daily. I even had one salesman that didn't know what the sign meant. Since I have a sign, aren't they trespassing? I am just wondering what my legel options are.
Quote from: OpenYourEyesTulsa on May 10, 2011, 12:27:28 PM
I put up a sign next to my doorbell that says "No Solicitors" but I still have people leaving papers on my door and knocking on the door almost daily. I even had one salesman that didn't know what the sign meant. Since I have a sign, aren't they trespassing? I am just wondering what my legel options are.
Other than the occasional kid selling candy bars for a mission trip, I don't get anyone on my doorstep.
Your best option is to ignore them and act like no one is home. You might also put a note on the door to not knock or ring the doorbell as your pit bull has aids and a bad temper.
I live in a newer neighborhood and there are tons of solicitors. They also leave lots of handbills that wind up in the flowerbeds and yard. After I posted this, I read on the city of Tulsa site that if you have a no solicitors sign they can be fined up to $200 but I bet the cops won't come running to give them a ticket.
I should just post a big ugly sign that says "Companies leaving handbills on this property agree to be charged a $25 disposal fine for every solicitation". I could also go for the "Trespassers will be attacked by small wiener dogs".
I was also wondering if the neighborhood association could legally post signs making the entire neighborhood a no solicitors zone.
It is a common belief in that line of work that a no solicitors sign indicates that the occupant is an easy mark, so paradoxically your sign may be a salesman magnet.
Quote from: OpenYourEyesTulsa on May 10, 2011, 12:27:28 PM
I put up a sign next to my doorbell that says "No Solicitors" but I still have people leaving papers on my door and knocking on the door almost daily. I even had one salesman that didn't know what the sign meant. Since I have a sign, aren't they trespassing? I am just wondering what my legel options are.
Quote from: OpenYourEyesTulsa on May 10, 2011, 02:36:49 PM
I was also wondering if the neighborhood association could legally post signs making the entire neighborhood a no solicitors zone.
I don't know why they couldn't so long as the signs were properly placed and not on the public right of way ;)
As far as the city enforcing the $200 fine, good luck.
I get them trying to sell that simple green cleaning crap and magazines a lot. No, I don't want to help you win a trip to Hawaii or whatever BS thing. And no I'm not paying $100 for a bottle of concentrated cleaner.
Owasso requires all door-to-door salesmen to get a permit - except for religious groups and people selling fruits and vegetables. If Tulsa has something similar, ask if the salesperson has a permit, and if he gives you a bogus answer like, "Uh, my manager has it in his truck over on the next block" tell him you're calling the PD to verify that. We had some guys preying on the elderly here. A quick call to the PD resulted in a patrol car looking around for the sales guys. Usually, they left quickly.
There's also an ordinance here that prohibits door-to-door sales after dark.
One of the Tulsa city councilors had a link to all the ordinances but I don't know if it's still available.