Posted sign keeps solicitors away

Dick Frantzreb doesn't mind when Girl Scouts make their annual visit to his doorstep to sell cookies, especially if they have boxes of Thin Mints.He's fine with volunteers of nonprofit organizations seeking donations, and he's understanding of political and religious groups ringing the bell on his Roseville house. But he just cannot tolerate solicitors who approach his door hawking magazine subscriptions, window replacements, lawn aeration or offering to paint his address number on the curb.The 64-year old said there seemed to be a flurry of them this summer."It's an intrusion," he said. "I've had naps interrupted and dinner on the stove and it's an annoyance. I'd like to minimize it."Frantzreb has lived in Roseville for 28 years and currently resides with his wife in the South Cirby neighborhood. In addition to enjoying the conveniences of what he calls "well-managed growth" through the years, he said the city's solicitation ordinance also appeals to him. And he wants to spread the word."I feel Roseville residents aren't aware of the codes governing this," he said.Under the City of Roseville's municipal code, a person who intends to visit a residence for commercial purposes must be registered with the Roseville Police Department.To be registered, a person must have a business license and submit a one-page application with the name of the solicitor, type of goods or services offered and list of all employees who will conduct this activity. The person must carry a copy of the validated registration and photograph identification while soliciting, and display both items if requested by a police officer or homeowner.It is unlawful for a person to commercially solicit at a residence with a clear sign in view that prohibits solicitation or peddling.Roseville Police spokeswoman Dee Dee Gunther said 31 solicitation permits have been issued so far this year."Many of the registered solicitors are very short term," she said. "They're just planning a soliciting operation that lasts a few days and then they're done. Some are permanent Roseville businesses that are planning a soliciting or outreach program, and others are traveling solicitors."Currently, seven businesses are registered, including three companies that took out year-round permits — Quality First Home Improvement, Fusion Development Corporation and Cast Outsource Solutions, a company that conducts door-to-door outreach for Comcast.Mike Licalsi, vice president of marketing for Quality First Home Improvement, said his company sends out solicitors every day around the area. The company, with corporate headquarters in Citrus Heights, offers home-improvement services such as solar installation, rooftop repairs, window replacements and stucco application. "A lot of (homeowners) write to us after the project is done and say they like that they talked to an actual canvasser," Licalsi said. "It's not a bad way to do business."This method generates business for the company, he said, and provides jobs for those doing the canvassing. He said the company makes sure to follow local solicitation ordinances."We go right to the city and ask what needs to be done," Licalsi said.A couple of years ago, Frantzreb — fed up with solicitors — researched the precise wording of Roseville's ordinance. Then he posted a "no-solicitors" sign. Soon after, Frantzreb said he got a knock on the door by someone selling a daily newspaper subscription. He asked to see the permit, which the young man had. Frantzreb pointed to the sign."He said, 'My manager told me to ignore that,'" Frantzreb said. "That just raised my hackles."In this case, the newspaper had contracted with a southern California-based company and subsequently offered the resident an apology, Frantzreb said."Roseville residents should know they have a right to be insulated from interruptions and it just requires a sign on the door," he said.If that doesn't work, residents have another recourse — call the police. Frantzreb said he called the non-emergency police on a few occasions, including one time when a van unloaded several teenagers selling magazine subscriptions."We get quite a few calls from residents, especially when traveling crews of solicitors come through town," Gunther said. "Residents are rightly concerned about strangers in their neighborhoods ringing doorbells, since this is also a common tactic used by daytime burglars."She said a burglar might ring the doorbell and if someone answers pretend to look for someone who doesn't live there. If no one answers, they attempt to burglarize the house. Gunther said it's difficult to quantify the exact number of calls police receive regarding commercial solicitors because these would typically be classified generically as "suspicious person" or "suspicious circumstance."The police department receives two basic types of complaints about door-to-door solicitation. One is that a solicitor might be violating city code. The other complaint is that the person appears "suspicious." In either case, dispatch will send an officer as soon as one is available. The police department encourages residents to call immediately if they're concerned.Sometimes police get calls about suspicious circumstances, where someone knocks on doors and if no one answers, goes around to the side of the house or enters a backyard. Those calls are given a high priority by dispatch because there could be a burglary in progress, Gunther said.As for Frantzreb, he said he's sympathetic to the fact that door-to-door solicitors are trying to make money. At 8 years old, he sold Christmas cards for the Cub Scouts and in college sold hairbrushes. But times have changed, he said."It doesn't provide the same function as it once did, now with the Internet," he said. "As more Roseville residents exercise their rights, we'll have a slightly higher quality of life. I'm not a curmudgeon by nature. I just feel the rules are the rules and they should be obeyed."Sena Christian can be reached at senac@goldcountrymedia.com.----------City of Roseville solicitation ordinance:· Commercial solicitors must register with the police department· Commercial solicitors must submit an application to the police department· Commercial solicitors must have a business license· Commercial solicitors must carry a copy of the validated registration application and photograph identification; must display if asked· It is unlawful for a person to commercially solicit at a residence with a sign in clear view prohibiting solicitation or pedaling