Is it against the law for me to insert flyers into car windshields at a local walmart/shopping center? I live in Canada, and I was just curious about this.

Thanks in advance,

-fuffalo

Looking at the strict law, it probably is. Why not take a 4hr drive down to the US and do your stuff there? It's legal in the US.

Well, you definately can't put parking tickets on windshields anymore. LOL!

I don't think flyers are illegal but there is no telling with the bizarre bylaws we have here (Toronto). I have a feeling it would depend on the owners of the parking lot ?

It's not a four hour drive when you live in the frigid lands of Yellowknife. ;)

Cyberbabe, interesting point. Maybe I should give my local city and/or the owner of the lot a call.

-fuffalo

As far as I know it's perfectly legal. If police and bylaw do it I don't see any way they can make it illegal, especially since parking lots are private property.

Well, realistically, nothing will happen to you.

However, a lot of parking lots have a "no solicitation" policy and will probably simply request for you to leave.

Furthermore, it's probably not as effective either, if you're selling hosting/design.

Boris

Originally posted by hvoice-boris
Furthermore, it's probably not as effective either, if you're selling hosting/design.

I'd have to agree there. Web hosting requires a specific targeted market, flyers at a grocery store may not be the best place. However, if you have a local computer convention coming up, you may be in luck. :)

NEVER GET LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE FROM AN ONLINE MESSAGE BOARD!

(I feel like I'm repeating myself here)

--Tina

Originally posted by Amdac
As far as I know it's perfectly legal. If police and bylaw do it I don't see any way they can make it illegal, especially since parking lots are private property.

Being private property, the property owner (Walmart) can have you arrested for trespassing if push came to shove. If the place has a "no soliciting" policy, the repercussions can range from absolutely nothing to being led away in handcuffs. Seriously.


-B

Originally posted by TMX
Being private property, the property owner (Walmart) can have you arrested for trespassing if push came to shove. If the place has a "no soliciting" policy, the repercussions can range from absolutely nothing to being led away in handcuffs. Seriously.


-B

Using that logic I can have the paper boy arrested for putting a newspaper in my mailbox.

The point is, it wont happen. The most they'll do is ask you to leave.

Originally posted by Amdac
Using that logic I can have the paper boy arrested for putting a newspaper in my mailbox.

That's different, you requested the paper. Otherwise, if he's on your property and you don't want him there, he is trespassing, at which point the trespassing laws for your jurisdiction will apply.

The point is, it wont happen.

The fact is, it could happen.

The most they'll do is ask you to leave.

Have a crystal ball, do ya'?

There were a couple of exterminating service salesmen going door-to-door in an apartment complex I ran maintenance at several years ago who thought it wouldn't happen either. They were wrong.

-B

Originally posted by TMX
Have a crystal ball, do ya'?

Yes :D

Originally posted by Amdac
Yes :D

:)

-B

A couple of years ago I was bought out of a business that later went and advertised its development services on flyers in the Local Mall parking lot.
About a week later they got a bill for 900 dollars for "advertising fees" which mentioned the "No Solicitation" rules.
Obviously this was specific to the Mall that they did this at and who knows if the court would support the bill.
Personally I would attempt to find a better method of advertising it seems to me to be a totally un targeted waste of time.
However, if you do do it please let me know if you get good results, I would be interested to hear that

It was just one of the methods I've come up with to start out on my low budget advertising. The city that I live in has some really bad hosting services, and I was hoping I could possibly snag a few people.

I was also going to have free email account on my knifemail.com domain as something to bring people onto my site.

*shrug* the nice part about the idea was even if I get one response, I will have made my money back - all it cost me was paper and some time! :)

Anyways, I'm going to give the local malls a call and see what their policies are on this.

NEVER GET LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE FROM AN ONLINE MESSAGE BOARD!

(I feel like I'm repeating myself here)

--Tina

Hehe, Sorry Tina, I'm new here! I'll do better next time! ;)

-fuffalo

Originally posted by TMX
Being private property, the property owner (Walmart) can have you arrested for trespassing if push came to shove. If the place has a "no soliciting" policy, the repercussions can range from absolutely nothing to being led away in handcuffs. Seriously.


-B

They have to ask you to leave first.. at least in the US.

You also have to worry about personal injury. People spend thousands of dollars on a vehicle and they don't want a flyer placed on their windshield. It's safer to drive around an area and place the flyers in the little newspaper boxes next to the mailbox.