Correspondent
Charlotte Observer
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011
Towns and municipalities no longer have jurisdiction over some campaign signs placed on their borders.
In August, the N.C. General Assembly enacted into law Senate Bill 315 which permits placement of campaign signs on the rights-of-way of state maintained roads even if those roads are in towns with sign ordinances that would prohibit, or control size or placement of the signs.
The ruling covers most major roads and thoroughfares.
"Streets within neighborhoods are probably town maintained, but all others are mostly state maintained with a few exceptions," said Matthews Planning Director Kathi Ingrish.
"Before the statute, we were able to use Matthews sign standards on state and town maintained streets within our jurisdiction. Now, as town officials, we have no jurisdiction on state streets or rights-of way where political signs are concerned."
The state standards for locating political signs are more relaxed than many of the town ordinances and enforcement is being handled by the state.
N.C. Department of Transportation District Engineer Lewis Mitchell says if a sign is found out of compliance, someone from his department will remove it, and then call the owner to come retrieve it from one of the maintenance sheds.
Other than removal, there is no penalty.
The law says that permission must be obtained from a property owner before a sign is placed in front of a residence, business, or religious institution. If a sign is placed there without the property owner's permission, Mitchell says you still need to call his office.
Don't remove it yourself. State law makes it a misdemeanor for a resident to remove a political sign from the public right-of-way.
Mint Hill code enforcement officer Margie Nichols says she hopes residents understand that her ability to deal with violations is limited to town streets.
"If the sign is on a Mint Hill maintained road and it looks like it's in violation, I will go out and take a look. But if it's on a state maintained road, they need to call N.C. DOT to report it," Nichols said.
The Town of Pineville also is feeling the effects of the new law. Officials there also are wondering how it will be enforced.
"Obviously, with this new law, you're going to have growing pains just trying to figure it out. There are good points of it, but I think it will be difficult to enforce," said Pineville Planning Director Kevin Icard.
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011
Towns and municipalities no longer have jurisdiction over some campaign signs placed on their borders.
In August, the N.C. General Assembly enacted into law Senate Bill 315 which permits placement of campaign signs on the rights-of-way of state maintained roads even if those roads are in towns with sign ordinances that would prohibit, or control size or placement of the signs.
The ruling covers most major roads and thoroughfares.
"Streets within neighborhoods are probably town maintained, but all others are mostly state maintained with a few exceptions," said Matthews Planning Director Kathi Ingrish.
"Before the statute, we were able to use Matthews sign standards on state and town maintained streets within our jurisdiction. Now, as town officials, we have no jurisdiction on state streets or rights-of way where political signs are concerned."
The state standards for locating political signs are more relaxed than many of the town ordinances and enforcement is being handled by the state.
N.C. Department of Transportation District Engineer Lewis Mitchell says if a sign is found out of compliance, someone from his department will remove it, and then call the owner to come retrieve it from one of the maintenance sheds.
Other than removal, there is no penalty.
The law says that permission must be obtained from a property owner before a sign is placed in front of a residence, business, or religious institution. If a sign is placed there without the property owner's permission, Mitchell says you still need to call his office.
Don't remove it yourself. State law makes it a misdemeanor for a resident to remove a political sign from the public right-of-way.
Mint Hill code enforcement officer Margie Nichols says she hopes residents understand that her ability to deal with violations is limited to town streets.
"If the sign is on a Mint Hill maintained road and it looks like it's in violation, I will go out and take a look. But if it's on a state maintained road, they need to call N.C. DOT to report it," Nichols said.
The Town of Pineville also is feeling the effects of the new law. Officials there also are wondering how it will be enforced.
"Obviously, with this new law, you're going to have growing pains just trying to figure it out. There are good points of it, but I think it will be difficult to enforce," said Pineville Planning Director Kevin Icard.
For the original article or to read the new law in its entirety, click here: Charlotte Observer.
Posts
10 comments:
What a surprise, politicians pass a law that allows them to place campaign signs just about anywhere they want to.
How about this poiticians, if you don't remove your signs within 24 hours after an election, you will be charged with one count of littering for each sign you leave out.
i think they get 7 days or something, not sure if anything really happens after that though.
Brad howard left his signs up for about 6 months after he lost in 2008. Guess its hard to remember where you put them all when you lose.
Wonder how this affects Phillip Redmond's dirty deals with his campaign signs?
What dirty deals? If you have something to say, say it or shut up.
Storing on county property.
Didn't think you'd have a response to that, Redmond.
No response needed. Nothing in the new law has anything to do with that. I believe you wanted to know how this would affect Redmond's dirty deals with his campaign signs. Thought maybe you had a thought, but apparently it was just gas again. Get back to me when you have something to say that makes sense maggot.
This is typical of the GOP: on the national level they holler the refrain over and over again about 'states rights' and local control free from the intrusion of the federal government. But now that they have control of the North Carolina state legislature, they pass laws that take power away from municipalities. This law is significant in that it says to towns that they can no longer regulate signs in state roads that pass through those towns. And yet, when it comes to getting the state to install proper traffic control, on the same roads, forget about it. Another great law the GOP passed was to remove many elements of local zoning authority, a fundamental right of local citizens to control what kind of community they want to live in. Not to mention requiring women to get an ultrasound before getting an abortion in violation of the doctor patient relationship. Yeah, good times.
Maggot? My, aren't we respectful when your law breaking ways are pointed out Sheriff.
Post a Comment