ADAMS TWP — Those soliciting door-to-door can now approach homes until 9 p.m. here, but measures exist for homeowners to keep peddlers away.

Supervisors at their meeting Monday night voted 3-2 to expand the hours when solicitation is allowed in the township.

The previous ordinance stated that salespersons and others who go door-to-door could do so between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the summer, when daylight savings provides a longer period of daylight.

In the winter, the solicitation hours were 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. so that residents would not have salespersons and others knocking on their doors after dark.

Adams solicitor Mike Gallagher told the supervisors that attorneys from a large, national pest control company contacted him to say that limiting solicitation to 6 p.m. was a violation of their constitutional right to free speech.

The pest control company threatened to file suit in federal court to be able to solicit business door-to-door until 9 p.m.

Gallagher told the board that if the township would lose a case in federal court, they would likely be forced to pay the pest control company’s attorney fees.

“This is a big, heavy hitter (law) firm that probably charges $500 per hour,” Gallagher said.

He said if the supervisors voted down a measure to expand the solicitation hours to 9 p.m., they could wind up in federal court.

Supervisors Chairman Donald Aiken and Supervisor Ed Vogel strenuously opposed approving the measure, saying residents should not be subjected to solicitors knocking on their doors at 9 p.m.

Gallagher said residents who do not want any solicitation at their homes could give their names to the township. That list would then be given to all who apply for and receive a solicitation permit.

Another measure homeowners could take, Gallagher said, is simply to print out or buy a “No Solicitation” sign to display at their homes.

If a homeowner took either of those measures and were still approached by a door-to-door salesman, police could be called.

“So we built in some protection for residents,” Gallagher said.

While Aiken and Vogel voted no, Linda Lees, Russ Ford and Tom Franceschina voted to approve the measure.

Those who want on the no-solicitation list can call the township at 724-625-2221 or use the Swift Alert system online.