Solano County Listings: Homes for sale

LOTS & LAND

From Page 3 door-to-door solicitors to get a permit from the city and to display that permit. The city will tell you it’s a safety issue. I’d argue it’s a tax-revenue issue. But in any event, there is a law. But that law would only pertain to someone selling something (and by “something”

I mean something tangible, not a religious or political belief system.)

Of course, most of those people standing on your doorstep don’t have a permit even if they are required to have one.

I suppose if a number of people on the block called the police about a person going door to door without a permit, and it’s a slow day at the station, an officer may be able to come out and confront the guy. But as far as enforcing the No Solicitation sign, there’s just no practical way to get it done.

However, things change when you answer the door and tell the person to get lost.

Once contact has been made and you’ve expressed your desire that the salesman leave

MOBILE/FLOATING

MULTI UNIT 2-4

Commercial

your property at once, their failure to do so now becomes a criminal act.

Well, it’s a tiny criminal act at best, but readily enforceable by the police as a trespass.

If you can get a cop there quickly enough, the police will be more than happy to escort the person from your property and could “trespass them,” meaning get their ID, etc., give them a written warning, and if they come back, they’d be subject to arrest.

But a trespass is unique to an individual, not an organization. If a company or church was continually bothering you at home after you have told them to stop, you could go to court and get a civil restraining order against them.

Then, if they show up again, the police can book them for violating the court order.

But of course, that’s pretty extreme and would cost you a couple of bucks.

All of which just takes us back to the chained angry dog idea. Just remember that he needs a license, too.

Tim Jones is a real estate attorney in Fairfield. If you have any real estate questions you would like to have answered in