Town Updates Law Governing Door-to-Door Soliciting

Clarkstown has updated its local laws regulating door-to-door solicitors and hawkers, clarifying the extent of background checks that are performed by the town as part of the process of granting soliciting licenses.

Town Attorney Amy Mele said the update is part of an on-going review of local laws being conducted by the town to ensure its rules and regulations are legally up-to-date.

After a brief public hearing Tuesday night at Town Hall in New City, the Clarkstown Town Board approved an update of the solicitors and hawkers license regulations. Mele said the revised law specifies that the background checks done for licenses are a combination of local and state checks by the town and the Police Department.

Mele explained that the wording in the previous version of the law could be read to require an expensive, nationwide background check. Mele said the records checks done by the town and the Police Department are sufficient for the soliciting licenses.

For a person selling goods door-to-door, such as magazines, Clarkstown requires a license be obtained through the Town Clerk's Office in New City. Clarkstown charges $60 for a license that's good for 90-days, with a 90-day extension available for another $25.

Town Clerk David Carlucci said the town has issued 13 soliciting licenses in 2010, having issued 14 in 2009. He said the law does not cover political or religious groups that may go door-to-door, which are free to conduct such activities under the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Carlucci said his office encourages political and religious groups conducting door-to-door campaigns in Clarkstown to notify his office so that the town can respond to questions by town residents.

The Police Department enforces the local law.