Maryland, in the not too distant past, passed a law to prohibit roadside advertising signs that a handful of companies like to stick on the public right-of-way. Despite the law, quite a few signs continue to pollute the roadside. By my observation, the big regional homebuilders are the worst offenders.
Thanks to local citizen Walter Burch nagging the state to enforce the law, they have finally fined some of the offenders in St. Mary's Co.
Fully story: http://www.somdnews.com/article/201...egal-roadside-signs&template=southernMaryland
I would love to see a smartPhone app that let citizens take photos of the offending signs and upload it to the state enforcement officials. The app could time- and geoPosition- stamp the submission so there was no chance of bogus reports. Then let the citizen share in the bounty--give them 50% of the fines collected. I'll bet the problem would dry up very quickly.
The other option is to vote with your dollars. Don't do business with the sign polluters.
Thanks to local citizen Walter Burch nagging the state to enforce the law, they have finally fined some of the offenders in St. Mary's Co.
The state issued fines of $25 per sign for 58 illegal signs — a total of $1,450 in fines on 16 companies.
Caruso Homes of Crofton was fined $250 for 10 signs. Flooring Max Design Center Mattress Gallery of Leonardtown was fined $200 for eight signs. Sport Clips of Lexington Park was also fined $200 for eight signs.
Papa John’s Pizza of Leonardtown was fined $125 for five signs, as was Gym Ratz Nutrition of Mechanicsville.
Sturbridge Homes of Gambrills was fined $100 for four signs, and so was Calvary Temple of Gambrills.
Burch said he still has an issue with Mattress Warehouse in California on Route 235. He said he has tried to get the state to take enforcement action on those signs since January, but since then the company “has continued trashing the public right of way with their litter on a stick every weekend without fail,” he said.
Fully story: http://www.somdnews.com/article/201...egal-roadside-signs&template=southernMaryland
I would love to see a smartPhone app that let citizens take photos of the offending signs and upload it to the state enforcement officials. The app could time- and geoPosition- stamp the submission so there was no chance of bogus reports. Then let the citizen share in the bounty--give them 50% of the fines collected. I'll bet the problem would dry up very quickly.
The other option is to vote with your dollars. Don't do business with the sign polluters.
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