Fined for insensitivity

Waterbury Republican-American ^ | August 22, 2007 | Editorial

[Graybeard58]

ADT Security Services Inc. offended a handful of people by leafleting a Cheshire neighborhood after a mother and her two daughters were slain. But it made a bigger blunder by ceding to the state unconstitutional authority to restrain commerce and limit free speech when it agreed to donate, on orders from the state, $1,000 to charity for its perfectly legal solicitation practices.

Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell Jr. was (sanctimoniously) outraged when he learned ADT was trying to drum up business in Cheshire after Jennifer Hawke-Petit and Hayley and Michaela Petit were killed July 23. Though he agreed "one cannot say that this advertisement was false," he declared it illegal under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, which gives his department jurisdiction over false, misleading or deceptive ads. But how can ADT's leaflet be illegal when even he concedes it factually represented the company's products and services?

"I believe that it's important in this case to push the envelope, to get the message across to ADT and others who might engage in this kind of behavior that it simply is not acceptable," he said. But from what statute does he derive the power to "push the envelope" and prohibit "this kind of behavior"?

Mr. Farrell admits his order prohibits all companies from doing business "in close proximity to an area in which a tragic event took place, in a manner which could be construed as capitalizing upon a tragic event." So if Connecticut later this summer is hit with a Category 4 hurricane, will it be illegal for home-repair companies afterward to solicit business since it "could be construed" they are "capitalizing upon a tragic event"?

ADT merely was responding to consumer demand, and sometimes that means offending the hypersensitive. Indeed, public-safety officials and industry spokesmen noted a spike in the sale of home-security systems after the Cheshire homicides, which began as a home invasion. People angered by ADT's ads should have called the company — its number was on the flier — to register their displeasure, rather than summon the nanny-staters who care less about the rule of law than giving the appearance of "doing something."

Bad taste? We'll let you decide. Illegal? No way.

[Graybeard58]

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[Graybeard58]

the nanny-staters who care less about the rule of law than giving the appearance of "doing something."

[the_Watchman]

I’ll believe the sincerity of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell Jr. when I read the stories about how he went after ambulance chasing lawyers. [I’m not holding my breath.]

At least ADT was providing a way for people to deal with their fear.

[Wiseghy]

My guess is that this was done by some moronic local vendor or franchisee, rather than ADT corporate. It was not just in bad taste; I’m sure it was against ADT’s own adverstising policies that the vendor blew off or “misunderstood”.

Nonetheless, I have no patience these days for the professionally offended. We can practically see these folks huffing and puffing about looking to a reason to get p*ssed off about some minor transgression.

[SteveMcKing]

I have no problem with them doing non-intrusive ads, even "exploitive" ones.

However, leafleting = littering in my world.

Keep your goddamn trash off of my car, out of my driveway, and not in my federally-protected private mailbox. "Trash" is what it is, and I am certainly not picking it up off the ground when it ends up there.

[jimboster]

You can’t allow companies to exploit tragedies like this since it would encourage ADT salesmen to kill people so as to increase business.

[AlaskaErik]

I’ve seen an expose or two on security firms. Needless to say, they’re not calling you two seconds after the alarm goes off, as in the commercial. Sometimes it was a half hour later. Other times they never called. All security companies do is provide the illusion of safety and a false sense of security. My security system has two components. The dog alerts me and my trusty Glock protects me.

[gidget7]

I say not illegal! Hey the folks in Cheshire are scared, as they are in a lot of areas. ADT simply said we are here to help. We can help you feel safer. Nothing wrong with that.

[MaxMax]

I used to place fliers on vehicles for a topless club. Imagine the fines
over the stupid people I offended.. /GASP!

[traviskicks]

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[traviskicks]

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[nathanbedford]

A perfect illustration of my tagline.

[GladesGuru]

The Color Maroon - Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell Jr.

If this Democrap’s views are found legal, and made binding, then when Muslims start shooting up neighborhoods all over America, it will be illegal to sell ammo in those areas.

[nvcdl]

Imagine if a gunshop had leafleted the neighborhood? The media and politicians would have had a cow.