08-07-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

RELEVANT LINKS: League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 1/4/2016 Regulating Peddlers, Solicitors and Transient Merchants Page 7 Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 491 U.S. 781, 109 S. Ct. 2746 (1989). Cities need to be mindful that their regulations need to be: •Content neutral. (A city generally cannot target or treat individuals differently because of who they are or for their particular message). •Narrowly tailored to serve the government’s interest. •Open for alternative methods for the same or similar communications to occur. C.Time, place, and manner Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 491 U.S. 781, 109 S. Ct. 2746 (1989). State ex rel. Cook v. Bates, 101 Minn. 301, 112 N.W. 67 (1907). Cities have some discretion in regulating the time, place, and manner in which peddlers, solicitors, and transient merchants operate. If a restriction is not content-based, a city may impose reasonable restrictions. The city’s discretion is not, however, absolute. Bd. of Trs. Of State Univ. of N.Y. v. Fox, 492 U.S. 469, 109 S. Ct. 3028 (1989). Working America v. City of Bloomington, 2015 WL 6756089 ---F. Supp.3d --- (8th Cir. 2015). Cities need to consider a restriction’s general effect and be able to demonstrate a “reasonable fit” between the government’s end (i.e., to preserve privacy in one’s home; prevent fraud, theft, or other crimes) and the means that they have decided to use to accomplished those goals (i.e., background checks, registration, or bonding). Ohio Citizen Action v. City of Mentor-on-the-Lake, 272 F. Supp. 2d 671 (N.D. Ohio 2003). ACORN v. City of Frontenac, 714 F.2d 813 (8th Cir. 1983). Local restrictions are generally reviewed by the courts using a test that has been defined as intermediate scrutiny (Is an important governmental interest furthered substantially by the regulation used?). However if the restriction is not content neutral (i.e., only applies to a particular group or specific activity), it will be subject to a more stringent test known as strict scrutiny (Is there a compelling governmental interest? Is the regulation narrowly tailored to achieve that interest? Is that regulation the least restrictive way possible to accomplish that goal?). In providing time, place, or manner restrictions, the local authority recognizes that sometimes it is the method, and not the activity itself, that will affect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents. By providing guidelines on acceptable methods, the needs of residents and merchants (or canvassers) can often be accommodated. 1.Time Ohio Citizen Action v. City of Mentor-on-the-Lake, 272 F. Supp. 2d 671 (N.D. Ohio 2003). City of Watseka v. Illinois Pub. Action Council, 796 F.2d 1547 (7th Cir. 1986). City regulations often include restrictions that limit the time during which door-to-door activities may occur. For instance, regulations often prohibit uninvited calls that are too early in the morning or too late at night. As with all regulations, time restrictions must be reasonable, affording peddlers and solicitors a reasonable period of time for their activities.