ATTLEBORO – Newspaper-like advertisements distributed by The Providence Journal to households have provoked complaints from Attleboro residents, The Sun Chronicle reported on Tuesday.
Health Agent Jim Mooney sent a cease and desist order to ProJo on Monday and threatened to impose a fine under a state anti-littering law if it doesn’t stop; the penalty for the first offense is a $5,500 fine. The law bars the leaving of trash or “any other material” on private property without the owner’s permission.
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Mooney said he has received numerous complaints from residents who find the advertisements in their driveways, front yards, sidewalks, street gutters and, in two cases, jammed in their snow blowers, The Sun Chronicle said.
The Providence Journal did not respond to a request for comment from The Sun Chronicle on Monday.
North Attleboro officials told the Providence newspaper that police officers would issue a $50 ticket if they saw advertisements “being thrown in a public way” and barred distributors from delivering to commercial buildings, buildings on Route 1 and vacant buildings.
I dislike junk mail as much as the next person. The Projo and any other advertising entity certainly have a protected right to deliver those publications without fear of police reprisal.