(CBS Detroit) — Election season is in full swing, and political yard signs are more visible than ever. However, there are some rules regarding its placement. Whether people follow it or not is another story.
Many political signs are placed right next to the road, which is against local ordinances in most municipalities. Most local governments also require political signs to be removed within 10 days after an election.
The Washtenaw County Road Commission says the signs must be placed away from the road due to safety concerns.
“Political or private signs may not be placed in the right-of-way of a street, which is generally defined as 33 feet from the center of the street, usually behind a sidewalk or public right-of-way.” said Matt McDonnell, executive director of the Washtenaw County Road Commission.
He said the road commission receives complaints about the signs and will remove them if necessary.
“If there were maintenance or safety issues, we would have all the signs removed,” McDonnell said. “We are nonpartisan. We remove anything that touches that area.”
Candidates must obtain permission from adjacent property owners before installing signs, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Some local businesses say this is problematic. One such business is Dexter’s A&W Restaurant. This restaurant is located on a prominent corner lot off the main street.
“We are not allowed to put any signs under it. If we do, we will take it down and dispose of it within 24 hours,” employee Josh Zinke said. “And then it got shut down. A lot of people realized they couldn’t put a sign on the corner.”
Dexter resident Perry Stern said he is reluctant to put up a sign in his yard.
“What I’ve heard around here is that if you put up a sign for Harris in this neighborhood, for example, there could be vandalism associated with it,” Stern said. “As much as I want to put up a sign, I’m kind of scared to do it. I don’t want to put my family at risk, I don’t want to put my home at risk.”
Meredith Bruckner
