By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COLD SPRING - When residents of this Campbell County city say no to pesky salespeople, they'll soon have police authority to back up their refusals.

Cold Spring City Council is joining a growing number of communities considering a "no-knock'' law.

It would keep unwanted solicitors from visiting homes in this city of 3,806. Council is expected to approve the law at its Feb. 23 meeting after deciding on penalties at an informal caucus Monday.

Similar to "no-call'' lists for telemarketers, a "no-knock'' list provides door-to-door solicitors with addresses of people who don't want salespeople coming to their door. In Cold Spring's case, the list would be available at the city building on East Alexandria Pike.

The proposed law is modeled after Villa Hills' "no-knock'' legislation, Cold Spring City Attorney Brandon Voelker said. Since Villa Hills' "no-knock'' law took effect Nov. 1, 160 people have signed up. First-time offenders face up to a $250 fine and 90 days in jail. So far, no one has been cited.

"I would imagine we'll get more interest when the weather breaks and more people are able to get out and go door to door,'' said Villa Hills City Clerk Sue Kramer.

Villa Hills also provides special "no-knock'' stickers that residents can stick on their doors, a practice Cold Spring is considering.

Cold Spring officials were discussing requiring salespeople to register with the city when Voelker and council member Lou Gerding read a few months ago that Villa Hills had approved a "no-knock'' law. Villa Hills took the idea from Erlanger, which adopted its own "no-knock'' list in September 2002.

Northern Kentucky supporters of "no-knock'' laws say they're responding to residents' concerns about solicitors who drop vanloads of young adults in communities to sell magazines or cleaning solutions, often late at night.

Individuals and groups who register to sell door to door will be told about the "no-knock'' law when it's adopted, Cold Spring Mayor Mark Stoeber said.

Because of free-speech rights, the law cannot apply to religious groups or politicians, Voelker said.

"We won't react unless we get a complaint,'' Stoeber said. "

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com