Cinnaminson Considering No-Knock Registry For The Township

CINNAMINSON, NJ — Cinnaminson Township Committee took a step to protect residents against peddlers and solicitors and any scams that might come along with them on Monday night.

Towns can’t prohibit anyone from soliciting door-to-door, but there are actions they can take, Cinnaminson Township Solicitor Eric Riso said during Monday night’s Township Committee meeting.

Township Committee unanimously approved a proposed ordinance on introduction that would allow residents to get their name put on a no-knock registry.

“Once they are registered, they will get a sticker for their window that tells a solicitor not to come to their door,” Riso said. “If they do, they can be cited and have their license revoked, if it comes to that.”

In addition to the stickers, residents would have their address added to a list of no-knock residences that are given to licensed peddlers and solicitors that seek to sell services or items in the township.

The public hearing and final vote on the proposal is scheduled for the Sept. 21 meeting. If it is passed, residents will still have to register if they want the sticker, Riso said.

The no-knock registry does not apply to religious solicitations or political campaigns; the activities of both are covered under the First Amendment.

There have not been any recent specific issues or concerns among residents, but they have come up from time to time, according to Township Administrator Eric Schubiger.

"The governing body began discussing this issue last year and asked our staff and professionals to develop a procedure which afforded residents the opportunity to be placed on a registry that excluded them from peddling and soliciting," Schubiger said.

Recently, Burlington County officials announced that U.S. Census workers had begun going door-to-door, and the U.S. Census warns that there are scammers out there looking to take advantage of the situation.

The U.S. Census has even put out guidelines for residents to stay safe as Census workers go door-to-door.

First, check to make sure that they have a valid ID badge, with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. If there are any lingering questions about a worker’s identity, residents can call 844-330-2020 to speak with a Census Bureau representative.

Burlington County officials have also advised residents to self-respond. Read more here: Census To End Count A Month Early In New Jersey

“There’s no reason to wait for a Census worker to show up at your doorstep. We want residents to know they can get counted right now by filling out the questionnaire online or by phone,” Burlington County Freeholder Deputy Director Tom Pullion said.

Census workers have already begun visiting homes that haven’t yet responded, and the final deadline has been moved up from Oct. 31 to Sept. 30 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“The earlier deadline makes it even more critical for anyone who has completed their form to get it done,” Pullion said. “There’s billions of dollars in funding at stake. If we don’t get an accurate population count, we won’t get our fair share of federal funding for our schools, hospitals, road and other public projects.”

Burlington County’s response rate to the Census questionnaire was 73.5 percent as of Friday, fourth best among New Jersey’s 21 counties and only a few points shy of the counties 75.3 percent self-response rate in 2010.

To get counted visit, 2020census.gov/ or call 844-330-2020.