The United States Supreme Court has recognized that door-to-door canvassers, "whether selling pots or distributing leaflets, may lessen the peaceful enjoyment of a home," and that "burglars frequently pose as canvassers, either in order that they may have a pretense to discover whether a house is empty and hence ripe for burglary, or for the purpose of spying out the premises in order that they may return later." Martin v City of Struthers, 319 U.S. 141,144 (1943). These problems continue to be associated with door-to-door canvassing, as are even graver ones.
Therefore, the public purpose of this chapter is to vigorously protect the First Amendment right of free speech and its accompanying promise of anonymity for the door-to-door canvassers, while prudently balancing that right with the government's equally important role in preventing fraud, minimizing crime, protecting the personal security of its citizens, and above all, facilitating every citizen's personal right to privacy.
(Ord. 06-55A. Passed 12-14-06.)