The problem of political signs straying into the public’s right of way comes into play each election cycle, according to officials in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
With this year’s election season closing in, county crews are keeping an eye on where campaign volunteers plant placards.
“We’re not in favor of litter on a stick,” said Susan Hubbard, spokeswoman for the Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation.
In Montgomery County, the government has posted information on its Web site about the sign ordinance. Both counties permit signs to be posted on private property but they differ on whether signs can be put in the public’s right of way. Prince George’s says no way, any day. Montgomery offers a limited duration sign permit for up to four signs per candidate, for no longer than 14 days for a fee of $27.50.
Violators face a fine of $500 per sign in Montgomery County. In Prince George’s, fines start at $100 and can go all the way to $1,000. Hubbard said she understands signs can be an expensive expenditure for a campaign, but unresponsive candidates will lose their placards if violations aren’t corrected.
“The signs are just taken to the quote-unquote sign graveyard,” Hubbard said.
A spokesman for the Rushern Baker campaign said a Democratic primary candidate for Prince George’s County Executive had already received a violation notice from the county.
The notice came with a $500 fine, Alex Krughoff said, and photos of where the offending signs were posted on Allentown Road in the southern portion of the county. An intern for the campaign couldn’t find the signs cited in the violation, Krughoff said, and the fine is being appealed.
“You expect to lose some signs to people putting them in the wrong place and the county pulling them up,” Krughoff said. “It happens every election season.”
