Antioch studies 'tag day' regulations

Too many organizations soliciting at intersections

ANTIOCH -- Village officials are still wrestling with how to regulate organizations that solicit donations at major intersections.

The Village Board must approve all "tag day" requests that allow civic and nonprofit organizations to post volunteers at intersections to collect donations from motorists waiting in traffic.

"Since we started discussing this issue, I am hearing complaints from more residents who claim that every weekend they are harassed at intersections for donations," said Trustee Jay Jozwiak.

Village officials don't have a problem with local organizations soliciting for donations, but more often the village is getting requests from organizations from as far away as Joliet and Chicago.

"We don't even know if half these organizations are legit. If it benefits Antioch, fine. Otherwise we need to slow down this activity," Jozwiak said.

The local Lions Club just raised more than $5,000 over a two-day tag day event. Village officials agree that an outright ban of soliciting would significantly impact local organizations.

Village attorney Robert Long said the issue is how to regulate the requests without appearing to discriminate against any group.

"People who collect for a cause are engaged in free speech. Of all rights we have, those are most tightly guarded by the courts. We can regulate speech if that speech causes disaster of one sort or another, but we have to tailor the restrictions and apply them across the board," Long said Wednesday in a committee-of-the-whole meeting.

Long said the choices are a complete ban or restrictions.

"If you allow it, you have to come up with a method to dole out permission fairly and equally, possibly first come, first served, or limit the days available for tag day events. You have to have a rational basis for whatever restrictions you impose."

The Village Board has only one outstanding tag day request. "We have time to continue this discussion through at least one more committee meeting before we finalize an ordinance," said Mayor Lawrence Hanson.