Town Bans Nighttime Solicitation

South Brunswick is taking aim at an annoyance reported by numerous residents throughout the township recently.

At last week's meeting, the Township Council passed an ordinance that restricts solicitors from knocking on doors passed dusk. The township is also considering the creation of a "do not knock" registry, which would allow residents to sign up with the township clerk to opt out from any door-to-door solicitors.

Under such a measure, when a person registers with the township to conduct door-to-door solicitation, they would then be given a list of addresses where they would not be allowed to visit.

"I don't have a problem with restricting (solicitors) to dusk," said Deputy Mayor Chris Killmurray during the meeting. "The no-knock list I agree with a lot of it, but we have to take a look at it. We have to balance that."

One of the chief concerns to creating a do not knock registry would be whether the law would allow the exemption of census workers.

"Sometimes census workers have to go out during the evening because people aren't home during the day," said Councilman Joseph Camarota. 

The town will continue to examine the possibility of the registry moving forward, but officials said for the time being the new dusk restrictions should be sufficient to help remove an annoyance numerous residents have complained about.

"If we're going to implement (a do not knock registry) we need to be able to enforce it," said Mayor Frank Gambatese. "But for now I'm fine with this."