Legal Definitions - soliciting

Soliciting refers to the act of requesting, urging, or enticing someone to do something, often with the intent to obtain a specific response, service, or commitment. The legality and implications of soliciting depend heavily on the nature of what is being requested and the context in which the request is made.

Here are a few examples to illustrate the concept of soliciting:

• Commercial Soliciting: A representative from a solar panel company goes door-to-door in a new neighborhood, offering free consultations and estimates to homeowners. The representative is actively soliciting new business by directly approaching potential customers and encouraging them to consider their services.

  This illustrates soliciting as a common business practice where a person or entity seeks to gain customers or clients through direct outreach and persuasion.

• Soliciting a Crime: An individual sends an encrypted message to a known associate, proposing a plan to steal valuable artwork from a local museum and offering a share of the profits. The individual is soliciting a crime by attempting to persuade or induce another person to participate in an illegal act.

  This example demonstrates soliciting in a criminal context, where the act of requesting or encouraging someone to commit an unlawful act is itself a crime, regardless of whether the act is ultimately carried out.

• Public Soliciting for Donations: A volunteer for a non-profit organization stands outside a grocery store with a collection bucket and a sign, asking shoppers for monetary donations to support a local animal shelter. The volunteer is soliciting donations from the public.

  This shows soliciting in a charitable context, where individuals or organizations request financial contributions or support from the public. While generally legal, such activities may be subject to local regulations regarding permits or designated areas for collection.