Somebody’s knockin? at the door; somebody’s ringin? the bell.
Paul McCartney likely wasn’t singing about magazine solicitors, and around Independence Township and Clarkston, the last thing most residents want to do is ‘open the door and let ’em in.?
But as unwelcome as door-to-door salespeople seem to be, they continue knocking on doors and ringing bells.
‘They don’t know what ‘no thank you? means,? said Independence Township resident John Meyland, who said he doesn’t mind neighborhood kids who come through selling candy or other goods to raise money for local schools. ‘It’s these others who come through selling magazine subscriptions and things like that. I consider it an infringement on my personal privacy. You tell them ‘no thank you? in a nice way, but they just don’t listen.?
But township officials say residents don’t have to put up with it.
‘I’ve never had this many complaints about solicitors,? said Paula Heenan, Independence Township deputy clerk, noting calls have decreased somewhat from a mid-summer peak, but are still coming in. ‘I tell people, ‘call the police if someone comes to your door without a badge.??
Solicitors, she explained, are required to pay a fee and fill out extensive paperwork detailing name, address, social security number and other identifying information. In addition, those requesting a permit must also provide a physical description, employment history, and any criminal background.
This information, Heenan said, is required of every person who intends to solicit door-to-door’one company representative cannot obtain a single permit for an entire group.
Once the application is complete, all information goes through the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Independence Township substation for a background check. If the person comes back clear of any history that would bar them from soliciting, a permit is issued.
Any solicitor who has passed permit requirements is issued a badge and instructions about wearing it in a visible location on his or her person.
The bulk of residents she hears from, Heenan said, complain solicitors do not have a permit, come too late in the evening, or become rude and belligerent when they are turned down.?
‘We had a lot of complaints this year about an organization selling coupon books to support woman’s wheelchair basketball,? she said, noting a number of organizations arrive with vanloads of solicitors from out of state. ‘Again, I tell them to call the police.?
Lt. Dale LaBair, commander of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Independence Township substation, said he’s not usually very tolerant of solicitors when residents start feeling harassed.
‘I guarantee we’ll get calls when they hit the neighborhoods,? he said. ‘People just don’t like solicitors.?
LaBair said he also encourages residents to call the police when questionable solicitors come knocking.
‘Absolutely,? he said. ‘We want to know who’s out there. Every once in a while we’ll give them a break, but for the most part if people are out there soliciting without a permit, we’re going to cite them.?
Often, when a resident asks a solicitor about a permit, he or she is told ‘the boss has it back in the car.?
This, he said, is not acceptable; each solicitor is required under township ordinance to wear an individual permit in a visible location on his or her clothing.
Those in violation of the ordinance are usually issued a citation for soliciting without a permit.
Soliciting for purposes of an official fund-raiser sponsored by a public, parochial or private elementary, middle, junior or high school are exempt from registration and fee requirements.
Recognized political and religious groups are also exempt from most of the ordinance requirements.
‘They get right in your face when you say no,? said Clarkston City Councilwoman Kristy Ottman, who brought up the issue at a recent city meeting. ‘It’s really becoming a huge problem?
In the City of the Village of Clarkson, there’s no ordinance regarding solicitors on the books. ‘When people ask, we tell them to go to the township,? said City Manager Art Pappas. ‘If (Independence Township) issues a permit, we’ll honor it.?

Do you know the rules?
Under Independence Township Code of Ordinances, Chapter 17:
Door-to-door soliciting may not take place prior to 9:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. of any day.
Persons under the age of 18 who engage in door-to-door soliciting must be accompanied by an adult. Both persons must apply for and receive individual permits from the township.
A solicitor is required at all times to wear a township-issued permit attached to his or her outer clothing so it is clearly visible to others.
Residents wishing to forbid solicitors on private property may place a weatherproof card approximately 3×4 inches in size containing one of the following statements:
(1) ‘Only Solicitors Registered In Independence Township Invited? Or
(2) ‘No Solicitors Invited.?
Lettering should be at least one-third inch in height, and the card should be placed on or near a main entrance door.
A copy of the ordinance can be obtained at the Independence Township clerk’s office, or by going to www.twp.independence.mi.us. From the main menu choose reference desk>links>clerk>code of ordinances. The ordinance regarding solicitors is contained in Chapter 17.
Contact the Independence Township substation at 248-620-4970.