quote:

Generally speaking, when a religious person knocks on your door, that is not considered soliciting.

Not in WV. It is lumped under soliciting. It’s also trespassing when they ignore the signs and do it anyway so that kind of arrogance has already put them on the wrong side of my
Ledger. Regardless, they get one warning to leave before I start getting rude. Someone told they’re not welcome and still decide to flap their gums deserve nothing more or less.

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I'd have to 100% disagree. Religion and politics are the biggest sales of all.

You can disagree all you want, but the law defines soliciting, and politics and religion aren't included.

A no soliciting sign does not apply, because it's legally not soliciting.

A no canvassing sign would apply, because legally that's what it is.

A sign that was popular years ago said:

"Trespassers will be shot.

Survivors will be shot again."

I gotta see if it's still available.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

I'd have to 100% disagree. Religion and politics are the biggest sales of all.

You can disagree all you want, but the law defines soliciting, and politics and religion aren't included.

A no soliciting sign does not apply, because it's legally not soliciting.

A no canvassing sign would apply, because legally that's what it is.

Would a no trespassing sign cover all of this?

If they are religious in nature, a friend of mine would answer the door with a sharpie, snatch their book, quickly sign the inside and hand it back saying, "I'm glad you liked it, always nice to meet a fan."

“We have a Ring doorbell and a “No Soliciting” sign immediately above it. Doesn’t matter, they either can’t or won’t read it. It’s almost like they take it as a challenge.”

Same here. Now they stand to the side and knock. It lately been “Hi do you (name) down the street we are fixing…”
Not surprisingly they have no identity tags, hand outs or any sign of being legitimate.

I've also answered the door with a cell phone and immediately took their picture and said "Now that I know what you look like and so will the police, what do you want.". Sent more than one scurrying away.

Have a zoned lawn irrigation system that can be turned on instantly by my phone.
Have plenty of signs and the whole neighborhood is closed to solicitors. Never answered the door, just turned it on.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

I'd have to 100% disagree. Religion and politics are the biggest sales of all.

You can disagree all you want, but the law defines soliciting, and politics and religion aren't included.

A no soliciting sign does not apply, because it's legally not soliciting.

A no canvassing sign would apply, because legally that's what it is.

You're correct. That said the presence of a "no soliciting" sign means folks don't want to be bothered. Relying on "it's canvassing not soliciting" makes the door knocker an asshole.

I live down a long gravel driveway. It takes effort to get to my gate. Thankfully solicitors,canvassers, and others don't usually make the effort. The last one that did happened to come through the gate while I was walking out my front door. Before I could tell him to beat it my friendly neighborhhod raccoon emerged from under the porch, walked between us, stood up on her back leges, and looked at the dork with the clipboard and growled. I told him it seemed the raccoon didn't like him and he should leave. He left. I think I'm on the do not bother list.

we get very few,
when they do approach, I have sidelites on the front door so I can see them,

I open the door with my left hand, right hand is behind my back or just to the side,


so far, the water purifier, or whatever salesmen have gotten the picture that my right hand is not something they can see, and cut it short,

keep in mind I don't threaten or comment other than how can I help you and no thanks,

Anyone ignoring my "No Soliciting" sign because whatever they're doing may not technically fall under that legal definition is going to get an earful from me.

They know EXACTLY why I put that sign up.

My city requires all people going door to door to register with the city and the city gives them a badge to wear. If they do not have a badge I can call the non emergency line and notify the police and they will send a car to track the person down. Yes, they usually come by within 5-10 minutes. Our police know that scammers go door to door.

Occasionally we get those scammers selling magazine subs, they go town to town in a van and get dropped off. It is usually a minority female trying to make you feel sorry for them, saying they are using this program to get off drugs blah blah blah. I have even had them hint at racism being the reason people do not buy.

If someone has the city ID, I usually answer the door, tell them I do not want what they are selling and offer them cold water. They usually stop their sales pitch but if not then I start to tell them about Christ (yes I am sincere about doing that, kind of opposite of what most here are saying). Usually that will get them moving on. I do not see the point in being mad about it, when I was a kid I always had to go door to door and sell junk for school.

I put up a “No Soliciting” sign- found out half the people didnt even know what “soliciting” meant, lol.

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That said the presence of a "no soliciting" sign means folks don't want to be bothered.

As others have pointed out, and as we've even seen from a few members, some people don't know the meaning of the word "soliciting".

I do understand the meaning, so when I see a no soliciting sign, I assume that the folks don't want to be bothered by people selling things. In fact, I've even seen signs that specify exceptions for things like Scouts and school fundraisers.

If you don't want to be bothered, don't put up a sign targeting salespeople, put up a sign that those reading it will understand. They aren't all mind readers.

1. Don’t answer or go to the door.
2. If we do answer and speak, keep it short, “not interested, thank you”. The irritating ones are those that want to know if we rent or own, other personal questions.

Biggest aggravating solicitation was a Vivint salesman several years ago. Caught me in my carport at my workbench. I just had an argument with my wife, so I wasn’t in the best mood anyways. The Vivint dipshit came in and gave me permission to keep on working while we talked. That really set me off internally! I politely told him I wasn’t interested, was busy. Had to reiterate that sentiment several times, please leave. My older son, just home from college graduation, also came to the carport door to also reinforce that we had asked him to leave. Closest I’ve ever come to call the cops on a solicitor.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

I'd have to 100% disagree. Religion and politics are the biggest sales of all.

You can disagree all you want, but the law defines soliciting, and politics and religion aren't included.

A no soliciting sign does not apply, because it's legally not soliciting.

A no canvassing sign would apply, because legally that's what it is.

The law and common sense are two different things. Anyone who thinks, “I’m not soliciting, I’m spreading the word.” Should know better.

I’m not saying you’re wrong, I’m saying that it’s a difference without distinction.

My sign is very clear.
No soliciting, distribution of religious material or political material.

I have invited the Mormons in for a glass of cold water, and I was clear I was offering them a glass of water and didn't want to discuss religion as my beliefs and theirs were not the same.

The last solicitors were a pair of hispanics with one being relatively clean cut, and the other looking like a gang member with tattoos on his neck. Those two were told to leave, not come back or they would need a closed casket funeral.

I can articulate fear of life as the folks have to walk 40 feet past my gate to get to my front door.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:...
As others have pointed out, and as we've even seen from a few members, some people don't know the meaning of the word "soliciting".

I do understand the meaning, so when I see a no soliciting sign, I assume that the folks don't want to be bothered by people selling things. In fact, I've even seen signs that specify exceptions for things like Scouts and school fundraisers.

If you don't want to be bothered, don't put up a sign targeting salespeople, put up a sign that those reading it will understand. They aren't all mind readers.

Ignoratio elenchi.

Stay the fuck off my property.

Capere?

Spring/early summer the door to door thing gets really bad and there’s these guys in those stupid hover boards that will just not give up. They will knock and wait for way longer than they should. This year I had enough and put my sprinkler just close enough to nail em. I have a automatic timer for my hose that’s blue tooth, I can turn my water on from my living room so when the 1st couple guys did this I just turned my water on and now I look forward to them coming. I don’t do it right away, I just wait until they knock and ring the door bell the 2nd time

Driveway gates and a half mile driveway eliminates that mess!