I went mountain biking yesterday afternoon and found this sign near the trailhead where I started riding:



This area is located in the Minnesota River bottomland and is protected as a National Wildlife Refuge. It's a beautiful natural area with plenty of trees and animals, and it's not uncommon to see deer grazing in the area. The area is also a subject of some debate, because the state would like to build a paved trail through the area, while mountain bikers (such as myself) and many hikers would like to see the area kept in a natural state without a paved trail. As a mountain biker, I have to make sure that I'm not causing adverse impacts on the environment or causing conflicts with other trail users. (The trail itself is located south of this sign; the area immediately behind this sign is too boggy for riding or hiking or anything other than wildlife.)

To see a sign like this posted in a natural area is almost unthinkable. Here's a person trying to promote their business without any regard to whether the sign can be legally posted there, much less whether it's appropriate to spoil the natural appearance of this parkland by posting a sign. (Not only that, but the sign is on a dead-end street that doesn't get a lot of traffic -- just mountain bikers, hikers, and boaters using the boat launch.) I'm sure the person posting the sign didn't think about these things; he/she just thought, "The more signs I post, the more successful my business will be."

Hey, Elkman:

This really is an opportunity. Since the are is a National Wildlife Refuge, it is certainly protected from intrusion and posting of illegal signs. Contact your local Department of Natural Resources and find out who to file a complaint with. It may take a few calls, but do find someone who is interested in busting this street spammer.

DenverShark

I wonder if there are any federal laws that would apply to bandit signs on federal property or on federally designated property. RainbowDeKlown has often referenced the Highway Beautification Act but I am not sure if or how it applies.

Newbie

Newbie (not)