Following its introduction to the St. Louis County Council on June 9, District 6 Councilman Mike Archer’s bill on regulating “aggressive solicitation” was held at the council’s June 16 meeting. Archer requested that the legislation be referred to the Committee of the Whole, providing the council a forum for further detailed analysis and exploration of the issue.
The Committee of the Whole meeting will be held on July 14 at 3:30 p.m. in the County Council chambers located on the first floor of the Lawrence K. Roos Building at 41 S. Central Avenue in Clayton.
“It will be a public forum where people can give their opinions,” Archer said.
In addition to the brief discussion on holding this bill that occurred at the council’s June 16 meeting, the topic came up once more during public comment. Spencer Harris, a resident of District 2 represented by Councilwoman Gretchen Bangert, spoke in opposition to the legislation.
“This bill presents itself as a bill to address aggressive solicitation, which is an issue that I’ve never experienced. I’ve never heard anyone talk about experiencing (it) in this county,” Harris said.
Per the bill language, “aggressive manner” concerning solicitation includes the soliciting individual intentionally or recklessly making any physical contact with another person without that person’s consent; following the individual being solicited to cause fear and/or intimidation; continuing to solicit within five feet of the individual being solicited after the individual has made a negative response; intentionally or recklessly blocking the safe or free passage of the individual being solicited and intentionally or recklessly using obscene or abusive language or gestures.
On top of prohibiting aggressive solicitation, this bill prohibits soliciting “in any public transportation vehicle, or bus or stop,” including the entrance and exit ramps to interstate highways, as well as state or county roads. Other prohibited actions include soliciting from an operator of a motor vehicle in traffic on a public street and soliciting on private property.
If passed as currently written, soliciting would not be permitted between the hours of sunset and 9 a.m. or during inclement weather, when visibility is limited and traffic laws require that the operator of a motor vehicle use windshield wipers and/or headlights. The inclement weather caveat would be enforced no matter the time of day.
Soliciting within 15 feet of any entrance or exit of any bank, check-cashing business or automated teller machine (ATM) during hours of operation without the consent of the owner would also be prohibited under this bill.
“This bill is about getting rid of a minor annoyance that this council might see on their day-to-day drive. This bill is, on its face, an attempt to further criminalize the members of our community that are the most vulnerable: homeless people. These are our fellow Missourians and fellow Americans who happen to be less fortunate than this council that we should be helping and uplifting, not criminalizing,” Harris said.
Updated action on Archer’s legislation will be reported as soon as it is available.
It should be noted that in 2023, a bill introduced by former District 6 Councilman Ernie Trakas banning standing on a county street or median was passed by the council; County Executive Sam Page later vetoed that bill.
