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Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –
Metro Council is considering changes to the city’s Do Not Knock rules which would put new restrictions on who can knock on doors and when while creating harsher penalties for those who violate the rules.
The bill, sponsored by Councilmember Jordan Huffman, specifies that door-to-door solicitation would only be permitted during certain daylight hours, beginning no earlier than 10 a.m. During daylight saving time, solicitations must end by 8 p.m. and must stop at sunset during standard time.
Additionally, solicitors must check the city’s non-solicitation lists at least once every thirty days and would be required to “visibly display a Metropolitan Government-issued solicitor permit, badge, or other required identification at all times while engaged in door-to-door commercial solicitation.”
Due to First Amendment protections, these restrictions would not apply to religious organizations, like churches, or political candidates and organizations.
To enforce the new rules, Metro Codes would be granted the authority to issue citations, civil penalties, and possibly revoke permits for repeat offenders. Residents could also submit detailed complaints which could be used to help determine whether violations have occurred.
The legislation reportedly comes in response to neighborhood complaints that solicitors are growing bolder, with some ignoring “no soliciting” signs or refusing to accept rejection, raising concerns about safety and privacy. One online petition calling for stronger solicitation enforcement in Nashville claims that 470 complaints have been filed over the past two years.
“It poses a real threat to the safety of the community when they show up after dark, are asked to leave, told you are not interested, and they still stay at your door, harassing you, even insulting you,” one commentor wrote.
“We have a no-knock registry in Davidson County that you can stay on for up to two years. The issue is there’s no teeth to it,” Huffman told the council last week. “We’ve had instances here in Nashville where individuals have posed as members of a company just to gain entry to a home or to scope the place out…At the end of the day, if you’re in your home and you don’t want somebody to knock on your door, you deserve that right, and this is what that bill does.”
And in response to some councilmembers’ concerns about the bill’s potential to discourage neighbors from knocking on each other’s doors, Huffman clarified the intent is “more focused on individuals and companies that are knocking in masses.”
“So, the girls that are selling Girl Scout cookies, we aren’t worried about them. It’s the guy selling pest control and won’t leave, no matter how many times you tell him,” he said.
The ordinance passed its second vote and must pass one more before becoming law.
Sources:
WKRN.
WSMV.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
