Legal Definitions - handbill

A handbill is a small, printed or written notice, typically distributed by hand, posted in public places, or left in designated areas. Its primary purpose is to convey information, announce an event, or promote a cause or service to a general audience. The distribution and display of handbills are often subject to local laws and regulations.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of a handbill:

• Example 1: Promoting a Local Event

  A community theater group prints small, colorful flyers detailing the dates, times, and ticket prices for their upcoming play. They distribute these flyers to pedestrians outside a local coffee shop and post them on public bulletin boards around town.

  How this illustrates the term: These flyers are handbills because they are printed notices distributed by hand and displayed publicly to inform interested people about an event (the play) and encourage them to attend.

• Example 2: Public Awareness Campaign

  An environmental advocacy group creates small leaflets explaining the dangers of plastic pollution and urging residents to participate in a local beach cleanup day. Volunteers place these leaflets under the windshield wipers of cars parked near the beach and hand them out at a farmers' market.

  How this illustrates the term: These leaflets function as handbills because they are written notices distributed to inform the public about an issue and encourage participation in "something to be done" (the beach cleanup and adopting eco-friendly practices).

• Example 3: Business Promotion

  A new dry cleaning service opening in a neighborhood prints small advertisements offering a discount on a customer's first order. They hire individuals to stand at a busy intersection and hand these promotional notices directly to passersby.

  How this illustrates the term: This advertisement is a handbill because it is a printed notice distributed by hand to inform potential customers about a new service and encourage them to take a specific action (use the dry cleaning service).