Members of the Baltimore County Council Monday night voted to cap the lifespan of campaign signs on private property to the 45 days prior to Election Day.
The new law eliminates several restrictions bill sponsor Kevin Kamenetz, D-District 2, originally proposed, including limiting the number of signs per candidate per yard and the size of signs after some councilmen and residents questioned the constitutionality of the signs. After some debate Monday evening, the council also agreed to hold candidates or their campaign treasurers responsible for violations.
The new law will apply only to candidate-approved campaign signs, said Kamenetz, who drafted and withdrew a similar bill in April. The county already requires property owners to remove campaign signs seven days after the election and prohibits signs in the public right-of-way.
“We all know that there were many illegally posted signs such that code enforcement officers were unable to cite everyone,” Kamenetz said of this past election. “I think if there?s an effort to cite people, that alone will discourage it.”
Kamenetz calls the signs eyesores and potential traffic hazards, but the American Civil Liberties Union protested the bill in April. Pikesville activist Noel Levy, a Democrat who lost a bid for the state?s House of Delegates, said the organization plans to fight the new limit in court.
Resident Ruth Goldstein said the bill only benefits incumbents who have name recognition.
“It galls me,” she said. “Kevin Kamenetz didn?t even put out any signs this year, so why does he have an interest in regulating them?”
Councilman Joe Bartenfelder, D-District 6, voted against the bill.
Also Monday, the council approved funding to continue a mediation program offered by the county?s Orphans Court and a grant to install security cameras in 34 elementary schools.
