News report aired on local ABC Affiliate this week:
Overland Park Cracks Down On Illegal Signs City Picks Up Signs Making Big Promises
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Overland Park is targeting signs that promise you can lose weight in 30 days, find the perfect mates and signs that claim you can earn thousands of dollars working from home.
KMBC's Donna Pitman reported that putting up those signs is illegal. Now the city is cracking down.
Armed with a screwdriver and linoleum scraper, city code enforcer Craig Coffey is also out to catch anyone putting signs along the streets.
"Anything that's off-premise advertising is prohibited in the city of Overland Park," Coffey said.
Pitman said that violators could pay a find of up to $500. Several branches of city government are coming together to enforce the no-signage law. Pitman reported that one reason the city is cracking down is that the signs are an eyesore.
"When one or two show up, then it begins to get to four or five and then eight or 10. From that point it does become a problem in several different areas," Lt. John Jackson said.
Pitman reported that the city wants to keep what it calls false promises of ending the single life and getting rich at home off the streets.
"People are calling us saying they're putting out money and they aren't getting any back," Jackson said.
Jackson said that the signs can also be dangerous for drivers.
"In putting a whole slew of these on a corner pole, at some point it does restrict or limit a driver's view," Jackson said.
Pitman reported the city is also picking up real estate signs, which are illegal to post unless they're on the property for sale.
