Lincolnshire considering new restrictions on solicitors, peddlers

With spring approaching, Lincolnshire officials are preparing to strengthen rules governing door-to-door solicitors and peddlers.

Would-be solicitors or peddlers would have to submit to thorough background checks, including fingerprinting by police. Juveniles would not be required to be fingerprinted, but adults overseeing kids would have to undergo full background checks.

Additionally, solicitation permits would be valid for up to 30 days, rather than for one year.

Village officials reviewed the proposed changes during a committee-of-the-whole meeting Monday night. The village board could approve the proposed changes when it next meets March 30.

Rules for peddlers were enacted in 2008 and amended in 2010. In the subsequent decade, police have fielded many calls from residents concerned about solicitors in their neighborhoods, Chief Joe Leonas said.

Lincolshire officials reviewed other towns' ordinances before recommending the changes, he said.

In addition to the revisions mentioned above:

• Permits would cost $50 for the initial permit and then $25 for each 30-day renewal, rather than $25 for a year.

• Permit holders would be required to obtain photo identification cards and wear colored, reflective vests provided by the village. Solicitors would be required to put down cash deposits for vests and IDs. If they are not returned, deposits would be forfeited.

• Soliciting for money on a roadway would be allowed only for charitable, political or religious purposes.

Additionally, door-to-door solicitations would be limited to between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, with no exceptions for charitable or nonprofit groups.

Under current rules, solicitors representing charities or nonprofit groups can be active weekdays between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. and on Saturdays until 6 p.m., while other solicitors must stop by 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

"That's kind of confusing," Leonas said. "We want to get one set of hours."

Soliciting would continue to be prohibited on Sundays and on state or national holidays.

People soliciting for political candidates would be exempt from the permit requirements but not the time requirements, officials said.

U.S. Census Bureau workers, who will be active this year, are exempt from the rules, Leonas told the Daily Herald.