Door-to-door salesmen no longer have free run of the streets of Fulton.

The Fulton Common Council unanimously passed legislation at Tuesday night’s meeting that regulates peddlers and solicitors within city limits.

The twenty page ordinance was drawn up by Fulton Police Chief Mark Spawn who was motivated to change the 50 year old, four page law after the murder of Diana Cooper last May at the hands of a door-to-door salesman.

“It’s always unfortunate when policies and laws are enacted after something as serious as this,” Alderman Bob Weston said

“It’s another quality of life issue,” Alderman Mark Sherman said.

Cooper was killed by traveling magazine salesman Matt Maxson. For Cooper's family and friends, the new law is a step in the right direction.

“With this new amendment to the peddling and soliciting law, we can start making Fulton safe again for its residents and children,” Cooper’s daughter, Kim McMillan said at the public hearing.

Cooper’s best friend of 48 years, Linda Carter, says the law sends a strong message.

“If you’re not wanted here, don’t keep pushing,” she said.

The new law requires solicitors to obey signs prohibiting salesman on private property. The legislation also makes the seller use the main entrance of a home, Chief Spawn said.

“This empowers residents,” he said.

The first offense is a violation and the second a misdemeanor.

Cooper’s daughter, April Searor, believes that such a law would have protected her mother and says that it helps a little with her healing process.

“As long as one more family doesn’t have to go through this,” she said.

For McMillan, the law is a wonderful tool to protect families in Fulton, but it is no substitute for the remorse she has been looking for from Maxson.

“Until we know he’s sorry it doesn‘t help...we haven’t heard a word from him or his family,” she said.

Spawn says that in an interview he conducted with Maxson, the defendant said he was not feeling desperate, but was looking for money for food and drugs. He also told Spawn that many of the sellers would look for criminal opportunities to steal even from the company they were working for.

“Some solicitors are transient and low-paid,” he said. “This sustains criminal activity.”

Everyone selling door-to-door must register for a permit, even if they are a non-profit group exempt from fees. The amount charged doubles if it is a same-day request to discourage last minute peddlers and give the city time to investigate an applicant.

The city also has the right now to revoke permits. The old law made the city wait 30 days before suspending a license to sell.

Spawn said that another incident, at the Memorial Day parade in 2000, also provided fodder for the new legislation. A peddler was selling fireworks and an Oswego boy was hurt by them when they were thrown at him.

Signs are posted at every entrance to the city that warns against peddling or soliciting without a permit.