NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 30, 1999

POLICE BEGIN SOLICITATION CRACK-DOWN, URGE CAUTION WHEN DEALING WITH SOLICITORS

CARY, NC – Reports of aggressive behavior, failure to fill orders, and operating without permits have led the Cary Police Department to begin a crack-down on illegal solicitation operations. Officers will issue citations or arrests "on-the spot" to address the situation before it can worsen. If convicted, illegal solicitors can face a fine of up to $500 or up to 30 days in jail. Cary has been inundated recently with several groups dropping off scores of young people in the area to solicit magazine sales. Groups causing problems in Cary tend to be out of Michigan and Texas and go by the names World-Wide Circulation, Interstate Sales, and Elite Sales.

"We don’t want Cary to get the reputation of being an easy target for these illegal operations, "said Cary Police Chief WJ "Windy" Hunter. "Our intent is not to negatively affect the success of legitimate, permitted sales operations," said Hunter, "but we have received numerous complaints of rude, aggressive, and questionable behavior about many groups."

According to calls to Cary PD, many people ordering items from solicitors have never received their merchandise and cannot contact the companies to complain. In addition, one adult crew leader was charged with a misdemeanor drug violation on Bond Lake Drive in Cary.

Like many North Carolina towns, Cary’s Town Code (Section 11-3) requires solicitation groups to purchase a permit, available at a cost of $5.00 per person from the Police Department. This fee covers the cost of a driver’s license-size photo ID that the solicitors should have with them while working in Cary. Solicitation groups, other than those selling magazines, must also purchase a privilege license from the Town’s Finance Department at a cost of $10 per person or $25.00 vehicle.

The only groups exempt from these rules are "Not For Profits" which are churches and others registered with the State and designated by a tax-exempt ID number.

Cary Police offer the following tips when dealing with door-to-door salespersons:

1. Ask to see the person’s Town of Cary permit which contains a photo of the solicitor.
2. If the person claims to represent a "Not For Profit" group, ask for proof of their NFP status.
3. If the solicitor cannot present either of these documents, or if the solicitor is aggressive or threatening, call 9-1-1.