Local business owners who believe small, temporary signs are a cost-effective way to advertise might want to reconsider that strategy in Calvert County. During their pre-meeting session with government department leaders, the Calvert County Commissioners indicated displeasure with the proliferation of the signs, particularly in the central and southern portions of the county, during the first weekend of April.
“There was litter everywhere,” declared Commissioner Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark [R]. To add to the consternation, many of the signs were touting a hot tub sale in another county.
“They [businesses] are just not paying attention,” said Clark, who noted the state and county have specific sign regulations prohibiting placement of the stick signs in medians and road right-of-ways.
“My patience is wearing thin,” said Commissioner Susan Shaw [R], who added the sign-placers know they are breaking the law. Shaw suggested county government staff “might need to put in some overtime” during a weekend, take the signs down “and throw them away.”
When Department of Community Planning and Building Interim Director Mary Beth Cook suggested the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) be alerted about the situation, Shaw opined that state officials would likely decline, saying they don’t have enough manpower on weekends.
“It’s a zoning problem,” said Commissioners’ President Pat Nutter [R], a retired zoning enforcement officer. Nutter said the offenders are usually given a warning and with a second offense a fine is imposed.
A state law that went to effect in January 2012 allows SHA and local governments to recover the costs of removing the illegal signs from highways. According to the Maryland Department of Transportation web site, offenders can be fined $25 for each sign placed.
State transportation officials said the temporary signs pose a danger to motorists, could potentially clog drainage systems, interfere with utility crews and mar the landscape.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
