Law would ban flyers & leaflets

Hoping to reduce the amount of commercial advertisements, leaflets and flyers deposited on city homes, the Senate has passed a bill (S.2181) – sponsored by Senator Frank Padavan – that would give residents the option of preventing the unwanted literature from being strewn on their porch or front lawn.
&#8220My bill allows residents to post a sign stating that advertisements and solicitations shall not be placed on their property. If business owners fail to comply, hefty fines will be assessed,” Padavan said.
The bill, passed Tuesday, June 20, would impose a penalty, between $250 and $1,000 but not exceeding $5,000, on those who fail to adhere to a sign posted by a resident.
Padavan said that quality of life issues, including neighborhood cleanliness, are important for keeping the borough’s communities safe, promoting pride and preventing future crimes. &#8220A stack of leaflets, advertisements and flyers is a clear signal to a burglar that nobody is home and that poses a direct threat to the safety and security of our neighbors. Nobody wants to drive down their street everyday and look at hundreds of pieces of paper blowing in the wind; nobody wants their entire apartment complex littered with unwanted literature.
&#8220What this bill does is allow those who do not want the leaflets, advertisements and flyers to say ‘no thank you,' while those who find them useful can still receive them,” he continued. &#8220We’re giving our local businesses an opportunity to be more in touch with their communities – the residents of Queens, of New York City, are burdened by literature, the amount of complaints I get is almost unbelievable. This bill is the solution.”