Now that summer is upon us, you should keep a vigilant eye out for solicitors and door-to-door salesmen around the neighborhood. I've already heard from a couple of Cottonwood Heights residents who had questions about random persons in the neighborhood selling items for a undetermined fundraiser.
Remember that the City of Richardson requires all solicitors to obtain a permit for all door-to-door solicitations, including distribution of handbills, flyers and any other advertisement. Note that school fundraisers, charitable or non-profit organizations and scouting groups are not exempted from this ordinance, although these organizations are not required to pay the permit fee.
Once a solicitor obtains their permit from the city, they are required to display their permit card at all times during the solicitation. Residents are encouraged to ask for and inspect any solicitor's permit card prior to listening to their sales pitch or discussing their cause. Also, if you have a visible "No Solicitors" sign posted, handbills, flyers or other advertisements cannot be placed on your property. Additionally, handbills cannot be placed or attached to any motor vehicle parked on public or private property in Richardson.
If you follow these tips, you're much less likely to be victimized by a scammer.
For more information about the ordinance, check out
this FAQ from the Richardson Police Department. For more information about avoiding scams, cons and frauds, please review the following document from the RPD.
