After a federal judge struck down a Baltimore County law limiting the lifespan of political yard signs, civil rights advocates say they plan to target other Maryland jurisdictions with similar restrictions.
More than a dozen jurisdictions in the state limit the number of days residents can post political signs on their property, including Howard and Harford counties, Baltimore City and Laurel, according to officials at the American Civil Liberties Union.
The organization sent letters Wednesday to local lawmakers asking them to consider repealing time restrictions they said stifle free speech.
“We are acknowledging that many times unconstitutional laws remain on the books even though they aren?t enforced,” said Deborah Jeon, legal director for the ACLU. “People may think they can?t put signs out because of it.”
U.S. District Judge Catherine Blake overturned a Baltimore County law in July that restricted political yard signs to 45 days before a primary election after the ACLU filed suit on behalf of eight residents who said the ordinance also disadvantaged the campaigns of political newcomers.
In Baltimore City, signs that remain posted beyond 30 days after the general election can be removed by Public Works employees, elections director Armstead Jones said.
In Howard and Harford counties, political signs can be posted only 60 and 45 days before a primary election and must be removed seven and 15 days after, respectively. But election officials in both counties said the restrictions aren?t enforced.
“If people call to complain, we say as long as it?s on private property, it?s free political expression and it?s allowed,” said James Massey, Harford County?s election director.
In this presidential election year, reforms of political sign laws are important now more than ever, advocates said. Patricia Visser, one of the defendants in the Baltimore County case, said her government job kept her from posting political yard signs.
Once retired, she said she was again blocked by the county law.
“We have to have ordinances that reflect the modern political process and don?t restrict free speech.”
