Lawmaker: Measure ‘respects the rights of initiative-supporters’
OLYMPIA – Location, location, location. No, it’s not just some old real-estate saw.
State Rep. Jim Moeller is prime-sponsoring a measure (House Bill 1584) that would have initiative-supporters locate themselves at least 15 feet away from the entrances and exits for businesses near where they’re collecting signatures.
“This legislation is a commonsense standard for signature-gatherers,” Moeller said. “It’s a very good and reasonable compromise that respects the rights of citizens and businesses, and it also respects the rights of initiative-supporters.
“What we propose here is a rational rule,” Moeller said. “We want the standard to recognize the fact that we’re talking about a property-rights issue as much as we’re talking about a personal-rights issue.
“A property owner or tenant – the business – certainly has a right to be free from signature-gatherers harassing their livelihood. The patrons and clients have a right to go to and from their chosen store and business without being forced to run a gauntlet of signature-gatherers. And yes, for sure, signature-seekers should be able, in a reasonable manner, to exercise their constitutional rights on behalf of their initiatives and referenda.”
Moeller pointed out that the legislation “has good co-sponsorship from people from both parties.”
The bill states that a property owner can give permission for signature-gatherers to carry out their activity closer than 15 feet to the door of the business.
In committee testimony on similar legislation last year, business representatives reported that signature gatherers sometimes push the envelope in terms of being overly aggressive. That sort of behavior in front of a store doesn’t exactly lend itself to productive commerce and the free and smooth exchange of goods and services.
Businesses in those cases have to call the police to come and deal with the situation – and no one really wins in that sort of a situation.
Then also, a business all too often today simply shuts off its entryway or exitway to everyone (except customers, of course), as a way to avoid getting all tangled up in any controversy over nonbusiness-related activity by the door. But then such a blanket prohibition tramples the good works of nonprofit groups and individuals, including young people and adults who are engaged in cookie sales and fundraisers and other aboveboard activities.