What Happened to the Campaign Signs?
Virginia law makes campaign signs on highway medians illegal.
Fairfax County residents might have noticed a distinct lack of campaign signs on highway medians this election season, and county officials say constituents couldn’t be happier.
Posting signs on public rights-of-way such as highways had become a pesky common practice that annoyed both residents and county officials. But legislation drawn up by Del. Dave Albo (R-42) took care of the problem, making all political signs illegal if they’re on public property.
Albo’s bill also amended part of Virginia state code that created a loophole specific to Fairfax County, making it unlawful to remove signs from public rights-of-way until three days after an election.
But under new law, the county can now form an agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation to remove the signs.
The Board of Supervisors has yet to vote on such an agreement, but Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) has been vocal about establishing a funding structure for a program to remove illegal signs and fine violators. Herrity told Patch that the agreement should come before the Board sometime this December.
“Signs placed in the median are really a blight on our community,” he said. “They can be dangerous and they’re illegal.”
And residents are pleased that the medians have stayed sign-free during the 2012 election season.
“Just about everyone I’ve talked to has been ecstatic that they didn’t have to look at the signs in the median this elections season,” Herrity said.
He also stressed that the law didn’t just pertain to political signs, but to all signs.
VDOT has already handed out hundreds of dollars in fines to different vendors who have failed to comply with the law, Herrity said, thanking the Commonwealth for helping to keep medians clear.
Campaign signs, political advertisements and other signs are still legal if they’re kept on private property, such as homes and lawns. Some restrictions do apply, in accordance with the county’s sign ordinance. Click here for more information.
Residents who see signs of any kind on public medians should call the Virginia Department of Transportation at 703-383-8368.
John Farrell
7:00 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
The signs in the median are as protected by the 1st Amendment as a picketer on a public sidewalk.
This year the campaigns did not see a problem with name recognition that usually faces a candidate. "Yard signs don't vote."
The signs will be back next year when Delegates, Gov., Lt. Gov. & AG candidates struggle to get you to remember their names.
Burke Resident
10:48 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
Interesting comment. Am I to draw the conclusion that median signs do vote? Really? We all know that we do have a problem with maintaining a pure voting system in this country and the author apparently suggests a reason why that issue will be an even greater problem once the median signs reappear. I, for one, was pleased to see that I did not need to be reminded about any candidate every 3 feet for 30 miles.
John Farrell
10:36 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
"median signs' and "yard signs' are synonyms.
what is a "pure voting system?"
Joe Chudzik
11:34 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
Advertising signs and Political Campaign signs are regulated by Article 12 (Signs) of the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance and Chapter 7 of Title 33.1 of the Code of Virginia. Signs are illegal if placed in the road right-of-way including on the median of any road, street or highway, or on utility poles, trees, traffic signs, highway markers or hydrants.
Violation of Article 12 is a Class 1 Misdemeanor with a penalty of $250 for each occurence.
Fairfax County has received authority from the Commonwealth Commissioner of Transportation (VDOT) to take enforcement action and share the civil penalties collected.
So far, there has been no movement on the part of Fairfax County to take enforcement action against violators. Adopt-a-Highway volunteers, citizen activists and the Fairfax Sheriffs Office Community Labor Force have removed illegal signs.
Illegal advertising and political campaign signs littering our highways and neighborihood streets have been a scourge on our communities for many years. This illegal practice has persisted for so long that many citizens believe the signs are legal?
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors need to initiate a public information campaign to educate the public on what is permitted and what is not.
Curveball
3:42 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Amen.
When I can, I stop and remove commercial signs. Things like school plays and church bazaars are OK. But signage for Taekwondo lessons, leaf removal and whatever else someone is doing to try to make a buck for personal gain are litter, pure and simple.
When I can, I remove them. I have quite a collection in my garage. The ones heavily stapled to utility poles have risen higher and higher over the years, thanks to stepladders in the back of pickup trucks.
If the county got serious about this, meaning enforcement, it would drop significantly.
Hint to cops: I suspect they're doing it during the couple of dark hours before sunrise.
John Farrell
10:31 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
The 1st Amendment supersedes County Ordinances and State Code and gives special protection to political speech including campaign signs.
Political signs are not included in the prohibition referenced. Fairfax's authority to remove commercial signs doesn't go into effect until an agreement is entered into by VDOT & the County.
Political campaign signs are legal, just like picketing on public sidewalks is legal.
John Farrell
10:34 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Curveball
Taking those signs has gotten folks charge with theft. Be careful, if the value of the signs taken totals more than $1,000, it can result in a felony charge.
Sally Spangler
12:18 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Thank you Joe. If the signs are now gone from the median on Telegraph Road and US 1, that is a blessing. However, some signs put on home owner property have not. It seems rather foolish that those signs were put up at all. All of them are for the man who didn't win. Take them up! This particular election is over. Time to get on with being AMERICANS, not electioneering for one person of the other.
Marie
9:15 am on Saturday, November 10, 2012
Patch - you should have reported this story a while ago. I did not know about this and am guessing the thousands of people who travel 123 didn't either, or didn't know the phone number to call to remove the Obama signs. I would have thought that VDOT would have picked them up if they knew they shouldn't be there while they are endlessly working on the roads.