Case Proposes Legislation on the Delivery of Free Publications

Hartford – State Representative Jay Case (R-63) has filed an official letter to the state legislature’s Planning and Development (P&D) Committee to ask the committee to raise a bill that would address the issue of newspapers piling up at the end of resident’s driveways.

The concept of the bill would require all free newspapers, which are delivered to residences, provide a notification within the publication instructing a resident on how to stop receiving the publication. For instance, a telephone number could be provided within the notice allowing a resident to call to remove themselves from the distribution list, if so desired.

The bill proposal also calls for a change in statute to make the failure of such a notification an unfair trade practice.

“I have been receiving complaints that as a result of papers piling up at the end of people’s driveways this becomes an indication that the house is vacant, thus making a home more susceptible to crime,” explained Rep. Case in regard to submitting the proposal. “I think it’s important for a resident to be able to decide whether or not a publication continues to be delivered to them, especially if these papers are placing an additional burden on their daily lives.”

The legislature will reconvene for session on February 3, 2016 at which point the P&D committee will have the ability to raise the concept as an official piece of legislation.

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