We have a Sign Vigilante!
I have no idea why “signs” has been a predominant theme recently, but here we are again. Someone has been canvassing the neighborhoods – a large swath between Sligo Ave and Takoma Ave, including Chicago and Philadelphia – and pulling up signs, leaning them against fences, bending them over, taking them, etc. Then the kicker: the bozo leaves a note, supposedly from the MoCo Department of Permitting, about whatever rules and regulations the person is breaking. (If anyone has a copy of this little memo, I’d love to see it.)
Further investigation reveals that this is not the work of the County but of some unnamed Sign Vigilante. Some of the actual regulations (which contradict some of the vigilante’s rules) include:
- You do NOT need a permit to put political signs in your yard.
- You can LEAVE THEM UP UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER – the 30 day rule does NOT apply to political signs.
- The signs must be set back 5 feet from the property line.
- The total area of all signs must not exceed 10 square feet. Depending on the size of the signs, it is equal to 2-3 standard political signs.
- No sign can be over 5′ tall.
- Signs cannot be illuminated.
If you want more information, contact Susan Scalademley, Dept of Permitting 240 777-6255.
Makes me want to put up a big lit billboard in my front yard dedicated to some cause. Perhaps an homage to His Noodly Appendage. And if you really want to find out who’s doing this, you can follow this guy’s lead from back in 2004 during the general election.
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About time someone raised awareness on the issue of these signs. They suck. Give this person the good neighbor award. See here:
http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2010/07/atter-busted.html
District 17 has their issues with this as well. Nov can’t come soon enough.
Pablo – these signs are on PRIVATE property, unlike the Atterbery problems. This sign vigilante jackhole is committing several crimes: trespassing, theft, vandalism, impersonating a govt official, harrassment, etc. He/she needs to be stopped.
If he wants to put his enormous amount of free time to good use for our community, he’d tear down all those freaking illegal and butt ugly “cars wanted $100″ signs posted on poles all over town. I grab down all those I can, but many are out of my reach or nailed in so tight, I cannot pry them out.
Eric – I gave my “memo” copy to the Leventhal campaign so they can follow-up on these incidents.
Kathy,
Post all the signs you want, but do it within the guidlines provided – otherwise risk getting reported to the county. Why is that so hard? I’m no advocate for trespassing etc etc but the rules don’t seem that hard to follow…I got one of those memos for a sign that I didn’t even post, but it was in fact too close to the sidewalk – so I removed it. Candidates AND those who wish to advertise for them should take responsibility for where these things get planted.
Baltimore County also has its own problem with political signs:
http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/news/106630/suit-claims-countys-sign-restricts-poltical-free-speech/
Good post, Evan. Now, altho its an interesting mental picture – Kathy trying to grab an out of reach sign on a telephone pole – lets talk about the the motivation behind ripping down those “cars wanted $100″ signs. Free speech, anyone?
Pablo – skanky “cars wanted” sign are free speech? Bwah Ha Ha! Those a-holes are just trying to get FREE advertising by littering our publicly owner street corners. Their signs are ILLEGAL, political signs on private property are not.
Scoozy,
Political signs on private property are illegal if not posted within county guidlines (above). Guess you didn’t get the “memo”.
Just FYI that “memo” contained several lies and some very out-dated information about the current sign laws in MoCo. Most of us who were vandalized WERE and still are obeying the county laws.
Last wordism:
The belief, common among liberals, that victory is obtained in a discussion by having the last word. It actually reflects a lack of restraint, a characteristic of wrongdoing…