Atlas Twp.- The township board of trustees is considering an ordinance that would require a permit for hawkers, vendors and peddlers that decide to work in the community. Currently the township only bans solicitation in regards to prostitution.
The proposed ordinance, presented by Township Attorney David Lattie at Monday night’s board of trustee meeting may carry a $200 per month or $20 per day fee for the right to sell door-to-door. The need for an ordinance was prompted by numerous home invasions over the past few months in the Atlas Township area. the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department, along with other area law enforcement, recently made six arrests in connection with break-ins in the area.
Township Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones referred to a recent Grand Blanc incident where two solicitors were going door-to-door and happened to approach an off-duty police officer’s home. The license plates were traced and it was determined the plates did not match the vehicle.
‘It was suggested that those individuals were checking out some of the homes for break-ins,? she said.
‘Right now there’s nothing we can cite solicitors on when they’re questioned by police. On the other hand we’re not trying to keep the Girl Scouts out of the community.?
Kautman-Jones said that currently only an ordinance banning prostitution is on books in the township.