ThayerAvenue.com

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.