If this bill passes, you could have door-to-door solicitors as early as 5:30AM, due to the severe restrictions on evening hours. Of the 684,410 residents in Nashville, only 1,880 have registered for the no-knock list provided by metro. We don’t need a new law, we need people who aren’t happy to register for the no-knock list.

The goal of the metro Commercial Solicitor law has always been to balance the First Amendment rights of the solicitor with the privacy and safety of the residents of the community. A proposal, up for 2nd reading at tonight’s Metro Council Meeting would severely restrict the rights. If you stole a pack of gum when you were 18, you can NEVER get a solicitation permit in Nashville, under the new proposal by Withers.

VOTE NO ON BL2017-953

It is well known that many door-to-door salesman are those that are down on their luck, trying to get back on their feet, facing hard times. If a company is willing to hire them with a misdemeanor charge from 10 years ago, and nothing since – why should Metro punish them FOREVER. Under the proposal, a misdemeanor from 40 years ago could prevent a permit being issued, instead of the current 5 year rule. There are police officers that would not meet the proposed background requirements for a door-to-door solicitation permit. 

Fast Facts:

• Nashville Populatin: 684,410
• # on ‘No Knock List: 1,880

Here’s the current restrictions that are law:

• No Hours Restriction
• No criminal history within past 5 years of:
  • premeditated murder, all sex crimes, sales of Schedule I or II drugs, fraud, or embezzlement.

Here’s what Brett Withers has presented for 2nd reading at council tonight:

• Severe Hours Restrictions (see more below)
• No criminal history EVER of:
  • ANY felony, EVER.
  • ANY misdemeanor EVER of theft, dishonesty, any sexual crime.

The bill, as presented by Withers, would restrict the hours so much in many months, that it would effectively kill the door-to-door solicitation business. He’s what the new hours would look like – In some months, you could not solicit door to door past 4:37PM – A time at which almost no one that works will even be home. And you better believe, that if the evening hours are restricted so harshly, they will make up for it in the mornings – some as early as 5:30AM. Wouldn’t you rather have them in the evenings?

Of course there’s a simple solution, you can sign up for the ‘no solicitation’ list in Metro – and you won’t be bothered, no new law needed. Of the 684,410 residents in Nashville, only 1,880 have registered for the no-knock list provided by metro. We don’t need a new law, we need people who aren’t happy to register for the no-knock list.

Who the law DOESN’T apply to:

• Charitable organizations, Churches, any religious group.
• Books sales or other expressive works
• Newspaper or magazine subscriptions
• These solicitors can show up 24/7 under the law, with no restrictions, or ANY background checks or permits. 

Call / Email your councilperson before tonight – let them know that people don’t deserve to be punish their entire life for a small crime, and that you don’t want solicitors at 5:30AM because they don’t have any evening hours to legally work.

Email the ENTIRE council here: CouncilMembers@nashville.gov

Metropolitan Council Members 2015-2019