By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
Mayor Dorinda Borer and Police Chief Joseph S. Perno are urging residents to remain vigilant and informed regarding door-to-door solicitors operating in the city.
As a reminder, an ordinance proposed by Borer and Perno last year puts tight guidelines on who and when someone can solicit at residential doors.
To ensure public safety and transparency, the city put the law in place to strictly regulate all commercial solicitation activities, the mayor said.
As spring has begun, solicitors are on the road, Borer said, and the Police Department apprehended its first illegal solicitor of the season.
According to Perno, the ordinance requires any company or individual conducting door-to-door solicitation to register with the department before beginning operations.
Residents can easily verify if a solicitor has followed the proper legal channels. Every registered individual is required to wear a West Haven lanyard around their neck, featuring their official identification clearly displayed in a plastic holder.
“Our priority is the safety and peace of mind of our residents,” Borer said. “By requiring solicitors to register and display official city-issued identification, we can help neighbors distinguish between legitimate businesses and unauthorized visitors.”
West Haven takes its solicitation regulations seriously. Companies that send representatives into the city without registering with the Police Department are subject to a $250 fine, Perno said.
The chief also said that all solicitors, regardless of registration status, are legally required to respect “No Soliciting” signs. They must skip any residence where such signage is clearly posted, he said.
Perno encourages residents to trust their instincts.
“As always, we ask residents to remain vigilant,” the chief said. “If you encounter a solicitor who is not wearing the required lanyard, or if you are unsure if they are authorized to be in your neighborhood, please do not hesitate to call us.”
To verify a solicitor’s authorization or report suspicious behavior, residents should call the Police Department’s nonemergency line at (203) 937-3900.