Courtesy of EPD Chief David Mercer

The summer months bring more door to door salesmen to the area and the Early Police Department has received numerous complaints about the salesmen going door to door. In order for anyone to legally go door to door and try to sell something in the City of Early they must have a permit. The permit process is designed to help protect the public from dishonest organizations and some that may be used as fronts for criminals. Although the permit process will not stop all criminals, it helps to identify who is out there going door to door that could pose a threat. Any organization that wants to sell items door to door must come to the Early Police Department and fill out an application for a permit and list every individual and vehicle that will be going door to door.

The Early Police Department will then verify the validity of the business that that the salesmen are not on a sex offender data base and are not wanted for a criminal offense. Each individual going door to door must have a valid copy of the permit in their possession and must produce it when ask by a citizen. The city ordinance permit requires the salesmen to honor no soliciting signs and leave the property if they are asked to do so. The Early Police Department will post any company who has obtained a valid permit on the EPD Facebook page to inform people who has a permit. The Early Police Department wants citizens to feel safe in their homes and encourages anyone that is having a problem with a door to door salesman or a salesman who will not show you a permit, to call the Early Police Department and allow the officers to check them out and take care of the problem.