Borough of Berlin residents, along with many others across New Jersey, have the ability to prohibit certain solicitors from knocking on their door.
Berlin Borough previously passed and established a “Do Not Knock” ordinance late last year that allows residents to add their address to a list with the borough that solicitors are not legally allowed to visit.
Other nearby South Jersey municipalities, such as Voorhees Township, Evesham Township and Cherry Hill Township, have similar registries.
The application to be filled out by residents is on the borough website at www.berlinnj.org, while also available at borough hall. The form requires residents to give their address, email and telephone number.
Once on the “Do Not Knock” list, the address is placed on file with other borough addresses to not be visited by solicitors. The list will be updated once every two years. The list of prohibited addresses will be provided to any person issued a license to conduct door-to-door sales, pursuant to borough code.
Borough Clerk Lois Sahina explained the borough has two lists of those registered for the ordinance, one with the name and address of those wishing to avoid peddlers and another with just the addresses in alphabetical order.
When a group wishes to go door-to-door, it has to register with the borough, fill out the proper paperwork and pay a fee for the length of time it wants to legally be allowed to peddle. Once approved by the borough and a background check is completed by the Berlin Police Department, those legally allowed to go door-to-door will wear a red lanyard with photo identification.
Additionally, residents on the list are given a sticker designating the residence as being registered with the borough. Residents should place the sticker on their door. The only way residents are able to be removed from the list is by calling to have their address removed.
Chief Millard Wilkinson says the department takes the matter very seriously and advises that residents call the police if they suspect foul play with a potential solicitor who is not registered and wearing and able to show the appropriate identification.
He says he expects potential incidents in the future regarding groups, such as high school sports teams, that might not be aware or think to register with the borough for certain fundraising events. However, over time Wilkinson says the department will continue to warn and enforce violators of the ordinance.
The ordinance, as written, comes with a punishment of up to 90 days in the county jail and/or a fine of up $250.
It is worth noting that registration for the “Do Not Knock” ordinance does not prohibit door-to-door solicitation by nonprofit, charitable, religious or political organizations, as such activities are protected under the First Amendment.
