Door-to-door commercial solicitation receives numerous annual complaints. Now, the Somerset Police Department, headed by Police Chief William Tedford, is championing a new “no knock registry” that allows homeowners to register their addresses into a database that bars solicitors from ringing the bell.

The “no knock registry” is but a stopover to assuage solicitors, and in a post on Facebook, Tedford is encouraging the public to comment their position on the matter. Furthermore, he’s seeking a total ban on soliciting in Somerset, though this may meet roadblocks involving infringements to First Amendment rights.

Solicitation presents myriad concerns from residents, especially seniors and retirees, whose notable presence and vulnerability makes them a particular target for “high-pressure sales tactics and crime such as fraud, identity theft, and larceny,” stated a Facebook post on behalf of Tedford. Unplanned visitors are both “annoying” and “intrusive,” stated the message, and many residents question the legitimacy of solicitors’ permits when it comes to cold callers stating their causes in return for signatures, subscriptions, or donations. 

Read more at heraldnews.com.