Permit required for door-to-door solicitation
Published 6:00 pm Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Is door-to-door solicitation illegal in the city of Lake Charles?
No.
But door-to-door solicitors must register with the city, and they must pay $100 for a permit, which is good for up to 90 days.
Section 12-38 of the city code says permit seekers must provide the city with the names, mailing addresses and phone numbers of their employers; the names, driver’s license numbers and contact information for all people to be involved in the soliciting, along with that of their supervisors; and “a description of the proposed activities.”
Additionally, the code says, permit seekers must “submit to a federal background check requested and reviewed by local law enforcement authority, the cost of which will be paid by the prospect.”
Permittees will receive city-issued identification cards, which the code says must be “clearly visible in plain view” during the permitted activity.
The code lists the following among its prohibitions for permittees:
“Going uninvited to any private residence, place of business, or office before the hour of 9:00 a.m. or after the hour of 6:00 p.m.”
“Going uninvited to any location other than the front door or main entrance of any residence, place of business, or office building at any time.”
“Repeated uninvited visits to the same premises during the term of the registration.”
“Solicitation of orders or the receipt of any form of payment for the future delivery or provision of any merchandise or services.”
“Going uninvited to any private residence, place of business, or office that has been properly posted with ‘No Trespassing’ or ‘No Solicitation’ signs.”
The prohibition on going door to door without a permit doesn’t apply to “church surveys or governmental surveys, religious proselytizing, political speech, and/or the distribution of handbills in which no solicitation of any donation, contribution, or payment is made, and which are restricted to single visits to the main entrance of any premises and conducted entirely between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.”
For more information, call the city Finance Department at 491-1251.
Online: www.cityoflakecharles.com.
NHTSA website offers information on recalls
Where can I find information on automobile recalls?
You could try calling a car dealer who sells the make in question, or you could visit the website of the automaker.
Additionally, you could try the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s vehicle recall website — www.nhtsa.gov/recalls.
The site, one of several set aside by federal agencies to list product recalls, allows users to search for information using a vehicle identification number or the year, make and model of the vehicle.
Online: www.recalls.gov.
The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.
