THOUSAND OAKS : City Decals Say No to Unwanted Flyers

Thousand Oaks officials have developed a decal they hope will fend off unwanted handbills.

The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the decals, which depict a crossbar over an advertising handbill with the words No Newspapers Handbills Flyers.

The decal was devised after homeowners complained that advertising flyers, newspapers and handbills hung on doorknobs lead to litter on streets and private driveways.

When the materials accumulate, they alert burglars that a homeowner is away, the homeowners said.

The decals, which will be available to residents and businesses by mid-February, will cost $2.50 for the first decal and 50 cents for each additional one, City Clerk Nancy Dillon said. They can be posted on doors, windows and mailboxes. Residents are not required to have the decal posted to keep advertisers from throwing junk mail onto their properties, Dillon said.

The only requirement is that they be listed on the city’s directory of residents who have filed forms rejecting such handbills. About 70 residents are listed in the directory. Advertisers may be cited if they leave materials at residences on the list.