Well it is officially the start of the political sign bloom period. Each candidate that files for office is given a sheet concerning the placement of their political sign. They sign a document that states that they have received and understand the limitations.
View attachment 8502
We live in a unique area that we are all proud of. The visual appearance of our highways and by-ways is a key component of out tourism industry. A tremendous debate on the "Ugly Blue Signs" has been playing out in our community as of late.
You can legally help in keeping our area cleaner. The bloom that is just beginning is controllable - you can stop the bloom.
I travel the roads of our county on a daily basis and enjoy removing these ilegally placed signs from our area. I am doing my part to eliminate the bloom. I never touch a "legally placed" sign, never remove one when it is placed in a persons yard or outside the public right-of-way.
Help me stop the bloom - remove these sign when you see them placed in illegal locations. They cost a candidate around $4.00 a piece. I have quite a collection already.
The Coyote is simply trying to keep our area as pleasing as possible.
Whenever you see one - "NO MATTER THE CANDIDATE" - stop and start your own collection.
Replies
75Beach LoverAuthor
The who doesn't matter - it's the where. I will check them out.
Thanks for the tip !
Thanks for the tip !
Beach Comber
The who doesn't matter - it's the where. I will check them out.sorry , my bad
Thanks for the tip !
Beach Fanatic
there should he something in the code that limits the quantity in a certain area...for instance....you cannot put 400 signs in a 1 mile stretch?!?.......1 per 1/2 mile sounds reasonable...if not excessive...
When did you decide you did not care for the first amendment?
SWGB
When did you decide you did not care for the first amendment?
I'm all for the First Amendment as well, but no where in that amendment does it state that someone is allowed to litter the world with free speech. It's pretty clear that you can say and print whatever you want, but you can't just put it where ever you want. If you disagree I have funn posters I'd like to hang on the side of your hosue.
SoWal Expert
Hop, you know the signs are easier to run over when they are in a big group.
Wile, is that big@ss Ron Paul sign still posted, south of the intersection of 331 and 98? It was up for almost a year, and started blending in with the scenery.
Anyone can file a written complaint to Code Enforcement for any violation, though I doubt they will enforce the campaign signs. If penalties were charged to candidates for sign violations, it would be too easy for Candidate X's opponent to rearrange and relocate Candidate X's signs, stirring much contraversy and hitting him or her in the pocketbook.
I have installed my campaign sign push bar and looking forward to crushing any roadside signs. I will use my turn signal just prior to pulling off the paved road, to warn drivers behind me. Bring on the signs.
Just had an idea for all those sign violating people who want to advertise their business in the tree tops along the roadside. We make some new signs that read, "sucks," "doesn't crappy work," "overcharges," etc and nail them to the tree, just below the other signs. I bet the owner himself comes out and removes the sign within three days.
Wile, is that big@ss Ron Paul sign still posted, south of the intersection of 331 and 98? It was up for almost a year, and started blending in with the scenery.
Anyone can file a written complaint to Code Enforcement for any violation, though I doubt they will enforce the campaign signs. If penalties were charged to candidates for sign violations, it would be too easy for Candidate X's opponent to rearrange and relocate Candidate X's signs, stirring much contraversy and hitting him or her in the pocketbook.
I have installed my campaign sign push bar and looking forward to crushing any roadside signs. I will use my turn signal just prior to pulling off the paved road, to warn drivers behind me. Bring on the signs.
Just had an idea for all those sign violating people who want to advertise their business in the tree tops along the roadside. We make some new signs that read, "sucks," "doesn't crappy work," "overcharges," etc and nail them to the tree, just below the other signs. I bet the owner himself comes out and removes the sign within three days.
Beach Lover
In Princeton NJ, where we once lived, they have an ordinance that requires the campaign to remove all signs within 48 hours of the election. I seem to remember there was a significant financial penalty if they failed to do so. My neighbor ran for elective office and I helped him the day after election day to gather up the signs. Do not remember what the fee was, but it did do the trick.
SoWal Expert
I love politicians -- They taste like chicken.
SoWal Insider
So what's the going rate for selling these hostage signs back to their original owners?
Might make a little pocket change:scratch:
Might make a little pocket change:scratch:
SoWal Expert
You don't sell them back. You stick them in the yards of their opponents, and start a feud. lol.
SoWal Insider
You don't sell them back. You stick them in the yards of their opponents, and start a feud. lol.
Now we're talking funn
Beach Fanatic
Have you guys seen the new kind that are just like printed plastic garbage bags fitted over a frame? I'm sure they are way cheaper and so I suspect that they will multiply by the hundreds.
It's a shame we can't restrict the materials used for political signs.
It's a shame we can't restrict the materials used for political signs.
SWGB
Jerry Clemmons (former mayor of Panama City) son used to pay Boy Scouts to remove the old campaign signs after an election. I think it was a dollar a sign and he donated it to the Boy Scouts.
SoWal Expert
Have you guys seen the new kind that are just like printed plastic garbage bags fitted over a frame? I'm sure they are way cheaper and so I suspect that they will multiply by the hundreds.
It's a shame we can't restrict the materials used for political signs.
Perfect! Political garbage.
Should make clean up easier, with the signs being garbage bags.
Beach Fanatic
Have you guys seen the new kind that are just like printed plastic garbage bags fitted over a frame? I'm sure they are way cheaper and so I suspect that they will multiply by the hundreds.
It's a shame we can't restrict the materials used for political signs.
Yeah, they are cheaper, and they blow off the frame when the wind blows. Then they become just like a plastic grocery bag littering the roadside. At least the corrugated ones generally stay put.
Beach Fanatic
In Princeton NJ, where we once lived, they have an ordinance that requires the campaign to remove all signs within 48 hours of the election. I seem to remember there was a significant financial penalty if they failed to do so. My neighbor ran for elective office and I helped him the day after election day to gather up the signs. Do not remember what the fee was, but it did do the trick.
If they were on private property these types of ordinances have been repeatedly found unconstitutional. If they were on public property they were illegally placed to begin with.
Beach Fanatic
Have you guys seen the new kind that are just like printed plastic garbage bags fitted over a frame? I'm sure they are way cheaper and so I suspect that they will multiply by the hundreds.
It's a shame we can't restrict the materials used for political signs.
All you have to do is restrict the materials used for all signs and make the costs about the same.
Beach Crab
To Wile
I am a Law enforcment officer in Walton County and what you are telling the fine citizens of this county is to commit THEFT. Here is the Florida statute.
812.014 Theft.--
(1) A person commits theft if he or she knowingly obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain or to use, the property of another with intent to, either temporarily or permanently:
(a) Deprive the other person of a right to the property or a benefit from the property.
(b) Appropriate the property to his or her own use or to the use of any person not entitled to the use of the property.
I agree that there are ordinances concerning this matter but a private citizan cannot legally take these signs. This is the road department and code enforcements job. In short the signs are not yours. Didnt your mother teach you not to steal. Shame Shame.
I am a Law enforcment officer in Walton County and what you are telling the fine citizens of this county is to commit THEFT. Here is the Florida statute.
812.014 Theft.--
(1) A person commits theft if he or she knowingly obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain or to use, the property of another with intent to, either temporarily or permanently:
(a) Deprive the other person of a right to the property or a benefit from the property.
(b) Appropriate the property to his or her own use or to the use of any person not entitled to the use of the property.
I agree that there are ordinances concerning this matter but a private citizan cannot legally take these signs. This is the road department and code enforcements job. In short the signs are not yours. Didnt your mother teach you not to steal. Shame Shame.
SoWal Expert
Beachy, if the signs are on the right of way, they are nothing more than litter, in my opinion, and I have collected and disposed of much litter from the right of ways in Walton County. What distinguishes illegally placed signs from litter? Also, if those signs are knocked down, are they viewed differently than if they are erect on public right of way? I hope local law and Code Enforcement will be doing their jobs, so that I don't have to volunteer to pick up litter.
Beach Fanatic
To Wile
I am a Law enforcment officer in Walton County and what you are telling the fine citizens of this county is to commit THEFT. Here is the Florida statute.
812.014 Theft.--
(1) A person commits theft if he or she knowingly obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain or to use, the property of another with intent to, either temporarily or permanently:
(a) Deprive the other person of a right to the property or a benefit from the property.
(b) Appropriate the property to his or her own use or to the use of any person not entitled to the use of the property.
I agree that there are ordinances concerning this matter but a private citizan cannot legally take these signs. This is the road department and code enforcements job. In short the signs are not yours. Didnt your mother teach you not to steal. Shame Shame.
Have WCSO deputies been instructed to enforce 812.014 specifically in regards to citizen removal of campaign signs? I do agree that removal is a road department job.
SoWal Expert
812.014 Theft.--
(1) A person commits theft if he or she knowingly obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain or to use, the property of another with intent to, either temporarily or permanently:
(a) Deprive the other person of a right to the property or a benefit from the property.
If the "benefit" of the sign to the politician and owner is to advertise, and Code Enforcement takes the sign, are they, too committing theft, since they are depriving the owner the benefit? If it applies to the general public, it should apply to all, including law enforcement. Personally, I am 100% for law enforcement and code enforcement doing their job of confiscating the signs, and fining the politicians the maximum amount per sign for charges of littering. County Commissioners already complain about Code Enforcement not taking a proactive stand on enforcing County Codes, so I hope they will ride their butts on this issue too. Oh, wait, the County Commissioners and Sheriff are politicians.
SWGB
Hey Beachy, since you're a LEO (I'd hope you not just saying that, cause that's against the law). Could you also post any laws regarding abandoned property?
SoWal Expert
According to the new sign I saw at a public access to the beach, all items left on the beach overnight will be remove. No Exceptions. I see the right of way not much different than the beach. The TDC even has a campaign, "remove it or lose it." Surely, that applies to the various illegally posted signs all over Walton County. With all the signs I see posted on the right of way, on a daily basis, I'd say Code Enforcement needs to get in the practice of removing the signs. Commissioners say they are tired of getting the complaints, and they want Code Enforcement to take an active roll in enforcing the removal of such signs. Looks like they aren't taking the hint. I'm still wondering what all of those shiny Code Enforcement F-150s are doing sitting still behind the CE Office.
SoWal Expert
One other question for Law Enforcement. When the County mowers run over the signs and shred them to pieces, is that against the law, too? Or, do they need to get off the tractor, move the signs over, mow, then replace the signs into their original position? Or, do the politicians request that the right of ways not be mowed during election season. The smart littering candidates place their illegal signs adjacent to permanent DOT signs, so that they don't get ran over by the mowers.
SWGB
I'm still waiting on Beachy to respond. Guess he/she is busy staking out signs to catch people removing litter. :roll:
SoWal Expert
Maybe, but Beachy missed more than three, nailed to the trees on 283.
Checking your forum account
Please wait while we verify your forum account.