JOHNSON COUNTY (WTHR) - If you are frustrated by door-to-door sales people, you're certainly not alone.
People in several Johnson County neighborhoods put up signs to keep solicitors out - and thought that would be enough. Sheriff Doug Cox says his department has been fielding a lot of phone calls lately, from residents frustrated that the salesmen are still knocking.
But it turns out, those "No Soliciting" signs need to be in a very specific place to legally work.
For a lot of homeowners, a knock at the door from a stranger trying to sell something is an unwelcome experience.
"One guy came back twice and then wouldn't leave and keeps talking to my wife through the door," said Nick Stits, who explained that solicitors have been especially aggressive in several neighborhoods lately.
"I just don't like anybody coming to my front door that I don't know and I don't think any of my neighbors do either," added neighbor Terry Rosenkoetter.
That's why so many Johnson County neighborhoods have "No Soliciting" signs at the entrance to their subdivisions.
"We have out in the front...we have the no soliciting signs," Stits pointed out.
But police say those signs can no longer legally stop solicitors from knocking on your door.
"Court cases indicated that individuals need to have those no soliciting signs on their homes - that the sign out at the front of the edition is not enough anymore. That the individual homes also have to have a no soliciting sign in order for us to enforce that," explained Cox.
Terry put up a sign at the bottom of his front door that clearly states "no solicitors." So if someone peddling pest control, lawn care, or home security stops by and disregards that sign on his house, Terry can call the cops.
The salesmen will face a fine.
"That's why I got the additional sign," Rosenkoetter said. "I'm doing everything the sheriff says I should do."
Solicitors have to have a permit from the city or county in order to go door-to-door. Police say if you don't have a sign on your house and they do come to your door, ask for the permit first to make sure they're legit.
Cox also says to never ignore that knock at your door. It could be a bad guy looking for an easy break-in at a house where no one is home.
"Even if you don't want to open your door, please acknowledge who's on the other side of the door that you are at home," Cox said. "Or else you could be face-to-face with someone up to no good."
And if you don't want a knock at all?
Stick that sign right on your house.
"Yep, I've got to get a sign," Stits said. "I was thinking of buying a bunch of 'em put them in everyone's mailbox so we can all have them here!"
The City of Greenwood recently adopted the same rule.
In fact, they plan to mail "No Soliciting" signs to any homeowner who wants one for their house in the next couple of months.
Salesmen who ignore those signs in Greenwood now will face a hefty $2,500 dollar fine.
It's not just happening on the south side.
Fishers Police will give homeowners' neighborhood watch signs for their homes that say "no door-to-door solicitation" to keep solicitors away.
