9-6-1. Purpose .

(1) Residents of the County have an inalienable interest in their personal safety, well-being, and privacy in their residences, as well as their ability to provide or receive information regarding matters of personal belief, political or charitable activities, and goods and services lawfully in commerce. The County has a substantial interest in protecting the well-being, tranquility, personal safety, and privacy of its citizens, which includes the ability to protect citizens from unwanted intrusions upon residential property. The County also has a substantial interest in protecting citizens from fraud or otherwise unfair consumer sales practices as well as criminal activity.

(2) There must be a balance between these substantial interests of the County and its citizens and the effect of the regulations in this Chapter on the rights of those who are regulated. Based on the collective experiences of County officials derived from regulating business activity, protecting persons and property from criminal conduct, responding to the inquiries of citizens regarding door-to-door solicitation, the experience of its law enforcement officers and those affected by door-to-door canvassing and solicitation, as well as judicial decisions outlining the boundaries of constitutional protections afforded and denied persons seeking to engage in door-to-door solicitation, the County adopts this Chapter to promote the County's substantial interests in:

(a) respecting citizen's decisions regarding privacy in their residences;

(b) protecting persons from criminal conduct;

(c) providing equal opportunity to advocates for and against religious belief, political position, or charitable activities; and

(d) permitting truthful and non-misleading door-to-door solicitation regarding lawful goods or services in intrastate or interstate commerce.

(3) The County finds that the procedures, rules, and regulations set forth in this Chapter are narrowly tailored to preserve and protect the County interests referred to herein while at the same time balancing the rights of those regulated. (Ord. 2006-33, 11/21/06)