AnonymousBy an edhat reader
Now that Labor Day is behind us, political campaigns will be putting up signs. We all ask that campaigns abide by suggested guidelines. Signs are allowed on private property with permission only. Signs should not be placed in the parkways along neighborhood streets. Signs should not be posted at intersections or in the easements of any public road/highways. Signs should not be posted on utility poles. Signs should be removed within 3 days of the election. If you see an illegally posted sign, probably the best thing to do is call the campaign office and ask them to remove it. Commercial businesses have to apply for permits for signage so political signs probably should not be put up at businesses. Help us keep our neighborhoods looking good. Show respect for our neighbors and don’t post signs where they are not allowed. Maybe those campaigns that refuse to take down illegally posted signs should be made to go out and pick up trash along our roadways.
The concern about the esthetics of these signs pales in comparison to what they represent: The First Amendment is the most important of the Bill of Rights! Allowing or even just tolerating signs for a few weeks once a season or so is a small price to pay for the freedom of choice and the right to be heard. Just lighten up and look the other way if the signs offend thee. Feel free to harvest them after Nov 3 as well.
“Just follow the rules” leaves the chance to be heard to the whim of some committee run by the in parties. They protect the status quo and themselves. A little civil disobedience is often necessary to get a message across.
Small, temporary signs…. what’s the fuss about? Seems like people get riled up when they see their neighbors have differing political views. Besides, it’s our First Amendment right to have our voice and support heard/seen. My neighbor posts plenty of Trump stuff on Nextdoor and puts the sign out as well, no sweat off my back.
Shorebird, your bumper sticker should say ‘I support superstition”.
Here is AB 362 – amend PENAL CODE 490.2 – (NB:pertains mainly to legal placement on private property – not specific about illegal placement on public property):
AB 362, Miller. Political signs: theft and damage.
Existing law generally establishes various offenses constituting theft.
This bill would make it a crime, except as specified, for a person to take, possess, damage, reuse, or move any political sign or signs without authorization from the owner of the sign or signs and with the intent to prevent, substantially alter, or substantially obscure the communication of the sign. The bill would make a violation of this provision punishable as an infraction or a misdemeanor, as specified, and would make a 2nd or subsequent violation a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, a fine not exceeding $2,000, or both. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 490.2 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
490.2. (a) A person who takes, possesses, damages, reuses, or moves any political sign or signs without authorization from the owner of the sign or signs and with the intent to prevent, substantially alter, or substantially obscure the communication of the sign, is guilty of an infraction or a misdemeanor. Upon a second or subsequent conviction of a person under this section, the person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or both.
(b) For purposes of this section, the following terms apply:
(1) “Owner” means the campaign for which the sign was created, a purchaser of a sign, a person who received a sign as a gift, a person who has given permission for the placement of the sign on his or her property, or a person in lawful possession of property who has given permission for the placement of the sign on that property.
(2) “Political sign” means any sign displayed through the day of an election that advocates the election of a specific candidate for official office or advocates a position regarding a ballot issue or issues.
(3) The prohibition in subdivision (a) does not apply to a law enforcement officer, local government official, or authorized representative of the campaign for whom the sign was created, while acting within the scope of his or her official capacity, to a private property owner who has not given consent to the placement of a political sign on his or her property, or to a person in lawful possession of property who has not given permission for the placement of the sign on the property.
(c) Nothing in this section shall preclude prosecution and punishment under any other provision of law, including, but not limited to, theft and vandalism.
(d) This section shall not be interpreted so as to preempt any valid local ordinance regulating the time, place, or manner of the placement or display of a political sign.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.
California Sign Law – California Yard Sign Regulations – advice to candidates:
“Posted on September 29, 2013 by wes
One of the simplest but most costly mistakes your campaign can make is being ignorant of California’s sign laws. Your campaign must file a statement of responsibility, which means if your campaign puts signs out too early, places them on landscaped highways, or otherwise violates California’s sign laws, the candidate, campaign manager, or whoever is on the state of responsibility will be billed for their removal.
Throw some negative press on top of the financial cost, and you can see why being aware of and following the state’s campaign sign laws is non-negotiable. Get it right and, heck, be on the look out for your opponent to mess up.
California Sign Laws
Political signs are unlike any other normal outdoor advertising displays in California. Section 5405.3 of the State Outdoor Advertising Act exempts political signs from rules that impact other “for sale” signs, business signs, and other types of signs. Your sign, however, must meet certain requirements for it to fit into the state’s definition of a political sign, so be sure your sign meets the following criteria:
Your campaign signs must encourage a particular vote in a scheduled election.
You can’t post the sign more than 90 days prior to the election and you must remove the sign within 10 days following the election.
Your yard sign can’t be more than 32 square feet.
You must file a Statement of Responsibility with the Department of Encourages a particular vote in a schedule election.
Send your completed Statement of Responsibility must be submitted to:
Division of Traffic Operations
Outdoor Advertising Program
P.O. Box 942874, MS-36
Sacramento, CA 94274-0001……..”
1:50PM… you know, your post is obviously a projection.
Thanks for the zillion letter nonsense post.
Excellent cut and paste skills. Pat yourself on the back.
Ideally, yes. I have never even put a bumper sticker on my car, and I’m 60. Yard sign? In this day & age? NO Thank you! I don’t need to open myself to attack. That’s what the nation has come to. I have many other ways of being heard, through support of causes I believe in. Yes, of course, they are anti-current administration.
If you want to make a public statement about your politics get a bumper sticker.
My bumper stickers says HELLO SCIENCE – BYEDON
So many rules, so little enforcement. My vote for the most illegal signs on a corner is on Modoc Road at the T intersection to get to La Cumbre.
There is no enforcement. When I complained about a clearly illegal Capps sign earlier this year in Carpinteria, City staff said they are very wary of trying to regulate political signs and did nothing. It would be nice if campaigns just followed the rules but I guess that is asking too much.
Illegally placed signs are litter. Good citizens pick up litter and dispose of it properly.
Hilarious that every election Laura Capps places lawn signs illegally in her parking strip.
Alejandra Gutierrez has had an illegally placed sign for many months since the election last NOvember! It’s on the corner of Mason and Soledad Streets, catty-corned from Franklin School. REALLY says what the councilmember thinks about City ordinances!
9:59, do you fear attacks by liberals or cons? A neighbor on the Westside from Idaho wrote a bunch of really nasty stuff about Hillary and Obama on his truck and displayed it on his paved over front yard for a couple of years and nothing ever happened to it. Eventually he went back to Idaho where he probably was surrounded by like-minded people. I wonder if I could move to Idaho, paint anti-trump stuff on my truck, and say the same after a couple of years?
9:59, do you fear attacks by liberals or cons? A neighbor on the Westside from Idaho wrote a bunch of really nasty stuff about Hillary and Obama on his truck and displayed it on his paved over front yard for a couple of years and nothing ever happened to it. Eventually he went back to Idaho where he probably was surrounded by like-minded people. I wonder if I could move to Idaho, paint anti-trump stuff on my truck, and say the same after a couple of years?
It’s a plain and simply assault on a neighborhood to post signs like the ones on Stanley drive in the Samarkand area. Ok I get it you go ahead and vote for who you want. I don’t care how you vote for. We pay huge prices to live in nice neighborhoods with out graffiti multiple signs are trashy and your neighbors should not have to see them for months.
It’s a plain and simply assault on a neighborhood to post signs like the ones on Stanley drive in the Samarkand area. Ok I get it you go ahead and vote for who you want. I don’t care how you vote for. We pay huge prices to live in nice neighborhoods with out graffiti multiple signs are trashy and your neighbors should not have to see them for months.