Murphy – The town council is expected to crack down on unregulated peddling and soliciting inside town limits “to promote public safety and welfare.”
Revisions to the town’s peddling and soliciting ordinance will make violations a criminal offense in some cases. The board voted unanimously on the revisions at its Aug. 4 meeting.
Because a criminal penalty is included in the revision, the board is required to vote on it a second time, which is expected at the board’s next meeting, 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2 (Sept. 1, when the board would normally meet, is Labor Day).
“The main purpose of the new rule is to make sure that anyone who comes to your door to sell things, from magazines to home repairs, is properly registered with the town,” Murphy Mayor Tim Radford said.
Under the new ordinance, people who want to go door to door to sell goods or services must first get a permit from the Murphy Police Department.
To get a permit, an applicant must provide information such as their name, address, the company they work for and a record of any past crimes. This allows the police department to review the application and make sure the person is trustworthy.
“A key part of the new rule is that once a permit is issued, the person must wear it so it is clearly visible,” Radford said.
“This makes it easy for residents to know that the person at their door is an approved solicitor.”
The ordinance also sets specific hours for peddling and soliciting: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during standard time. This is intended to prevent people from being disturbed by salespeople late into the evening.
“There are some exceptions to the new rule,” Radford said. “For example, it does not apply to nonprofit or charitable organizations, children under 18 selling for school or people delivering pre-ordered items.”
Anyone who breaks the new rules by soliciting without a permit or outside of the allowed hours could face a Class 3 misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine up to $500 or up to 30 days in jail.
The Murphy Police Department and town manager will be in charge of enforcing the new ordinance.