I've just recently located this site and read it. I agree that the proliferation of signage is becoming a problem. However, how is plastering stickers with CAUSS.org on it not the same thing as the sign spammer in the first place. If the issue is the litter and the way it looks, then what in the heck is the sticker? Artwork?

Also, browsing through the site and finding the "shark stick" instructions is fairly scarry. These are no less than illegal weapons and if you were stopped by a police officer and found to have these in your car, you could be arrested and/or fined according to the sherrif that lives next to me.

Now, I'm not here to cause trouble. I don't like the signs either but the zealous people on here are just a little scarry. I also know that I don't mind signs out there for Open Houses, garage sales, lost pets and such and they are put up, do their purpose and are taken down to be used again.

Stickers can accomplish several things....

1. They can help recruit like-minded individuals to help keep the streets clean.

2. They put spammers on notice their signs are being actively sharked in the area and aren't being picked up by landscaping crews.

3. They attract spam trolls to the CAUSS website.

As to appearance, the person placing the sticker was not the person who originally placed the illegal sign on the street or on the utility pole to start with. A sticker may not be pretty but neither is a neon 2' x 2' yellow sign with red letters yelling "BAD CREDIT??"

According to which ever law enforcemnt you have a dialogue with, almost anything in your car/vehcile can be conceived as a "deadly weapon".

Spray paint, aerosol can of computer cleaing air, dog leash, piece of fencing, any assortment of tools, you name it.

There are a lot of code enforcement guys that are now carrying "shark sticks" in their "arsenal" to combat bandit signs.
For that reason, we are seeing a lot less need for the shark sticks.

As far as the sharky sticks go, the spammers are finally seeing the light that we can take out a pole sign a lot faster that they can go to the trouble to put it up.

As far as your local sheriff is concernmed, he is elected to uphold the law, not interpret. It's one thing to accuse someone of an infraction, it's entirely another matter to prove it.

GW

>However, how is plastering stickers with CAUSS.org on it not
>the same thing as the sign spammer in the first place. If
>the issue is the litter and the way it looks, then what in
>the heck is the sticker? Artwork?

It could be that you haven't noticed all the other efforts by that person to remove that sign. Perhaps they've removed that sign 20, 30, 100 times and it keeps coming back. Perhaps they've called the sign benefactor but nothing's been done. Perhaps they've called the city but they're too overworked to take action. So now they put a sticker on the sign and you noticed it. Sure it's ugly, but don't think that's the first thing they did, or that their goal is to get CAUSS stickers plastered all over town. They just want the signs gone.


>Also, browsing through the site and finding the "shark
>stick" instructions is fairly scarry. These are no less
>than illegal weapons and if you were stopped by a police
>officer and found to have these in your car, you could be
>arrested and/or fined according to the sherrif that lives
>next to me.

Illegal weapon? If that's so, then the tire iron in your trunk would also be an illegal weapon. If you're concerned about that, get a weeding hoe instead.


>Now, I'm not here to cause trouble. I don't like the signs
>either but the zealous people on here are just a little
>scarry. I also know that I don't mind signs out there for
>Open Houses, garage sales, lost pets and such and they are
>put up, do their purpose and are taken down to be used
>again.

I don't mind those types of signs either when they're responsibly placed. One garage sale sign is okay. Fluorescent posterboards placed in all interesections in a 1 mile radius is not. A couple of lost pet signs is okay. A sign on every telephone pole in the city is not. Since there's a mysterious grey line with regards to these types of signs and since they're all illegal anyway, I'll usually remove them no matter if I think they've crossed that line.

>I've just recently located this site and read it. I agree
>that the proliferation of signage is becoming a problem.
>However, how is plastering stickers with CAUSS.org on it not
>the same thing as the sign spammer in the first place. If
>the issue is the litter and the way it looks, then what in
>the heck is the sticker? Artwork?

Oh, here we go again. Another troll, trying to hide behind a facade of "mild-manneredness." You're not fooling me, or probably anyone else here, troll.

>
>Also, browsing through the site and finding the "shark
>stick" instructions is fairly scarry. These are no less
>than illegal weapons and if you were stopped by a police
>officer and found to have these in your car, you could be
>arrested and/or fined according to the sherrif that lives
>next to me.

Ya-hah, right. Sure.

>Now, I'm not here to cause trouble.

Sure, you're not.

>I don't like the signs either but the zealous people on here are just a little
>scarry. I also know that I don't mind signs out there for
>Open Houses, garage sales, lost pets and such and they are
>put up, do their purpose and are taken down to be used
>again.

Scarry? You mean we have a lot of scars? Well, I certainly do, but I'm not sure about the others.

Oh, you mean scary. Well, if we scare you, don't be putting up illegal signs, and you won't have to worry about our scary selves.

Redstone

I'm not on either side of this issue. I really don't care one way or the other as it doesn't truly affect my life whether someone puts signs out on the street or not. I was brought here because of the stickers I saw and that speaks to the effectiveness of the advertising I guess. They advertise Computer Camps, Cheap Ink, We Buy House and many other things and you all advertise CAUSS.


The point about the tire iron is valid (I can't remember if it was this post or one before it) but the tire iron is secured with the spare tire and not floating around in the back seat somewhere that there can be "heat of the moment" access to it. That was the explanation I was given when I brought that up to my friend...he said it really depends on the officer and the percieved intent or the percieved usage of the implement.

I'm not here to cause trouble, regardless of what you might think, nor am I a board troll or looking for a flame war so your aggressive tone isn't really needed, Redstone.

Just browsing the site, I am aware of laws and regulations that I never really gave much thought to before (as I said, these signs don't really affect my life although one of them did bring me here I guess). It's good to know the laws because it's possible I might have said something to someone I percieved as vandalizing or stealing a sign when now I know it's a private war going on over legal vs illegal advertising. It's actually kind of funny because I wouldn't have thought twice about asking someone NOT to put a sign up, but I might have said something to someone defacing or taking one. It could have been bad if I had asked someone like you, Redstone, to not steal someone's sign and you had flared back confrontationally like here on the board.



Thank you for taking the time to correct my "r"; I should have payed better attention to my spelling but I made a (couple of) mistake(s).

I honestly came here to see what this was all about and even went one step further to ASK a friend who is in law enforcement about what I saw here and I get torched as a "Troll". I guess I stumbled on some secret society and it's a "You're with Us or against Us" club. I guess in those terms, I'm against CAUSS then because I just don't see myself being so moved by signs that I feel the need to take them down or deface them. If they were advertising something illegal or immoral, well, maybe, but I just can't get that worked up over something legal for sale.


I appreciate all the rest of you that took the time to respond intellegently to the couple of things I posted (admittedly, after re-reading my post, it probably came off as a bit self-righteous and that wasn't my intent). You got your message through to me and at least I understand what this is about now.

Splinter,

I appreciate your coming to this forum and posting your thoughts.

I am opposed to illegal signs for quite a few reasons but I won't go into that here.

I don't put people in a position of choosing "our way or the highway." I figure that anyone who helps in some way to reduce or eliminate illegal signs is doing a service to the community. It might be picking up one sign or telling friends that there are ordinances against these signs. Of course, I'd prefer people were more active than this.

You took the time to find out what we are about and that is a good thing.

Newbie (not)

Splinter,

First off, thanks for coming here and presenting your thoughts in a very cordial manner. Folks like you seem to be far and few between these days. If I may (and I will), I'd like to point out some alternate views on the sign issue.


I'm not on either side of this issue. I really don't care one way or the other as it doesn't truly affect my life whether someone puts signs out on the street or not.

I believe it affects my life in that I own a home and around the corner are signs constantly in the public ROW. When I bought the house, I didn't notice a single sign, but slowly they started appearing to where now it's blight (in my opinion). Now, when I sell this house in 5-6 years and move on to my next construction project, I want to make sure I get top dollar for my home and I believe the signs are a detriment to the neighborhood.

Take a look around the nicer neighborhoods and business districts. They don't have sign problems, they have crews that constantly police these things and their property values continue to rise (I believe partly) because of this.

In a nutshell, it shows the area residents of an area care.

If you're never moving, or you rent, signs my keep your taxes or rent down as property values may not rise as fast as they would otherwise.

Also, according to a local Code Enforcement Officer, 90% of bandit signs are scams. I'm assuming he isn't including homebuilder signs as they are 90% of the signs out there! Ha! Anyway, every person that's scammed by these signs likely contacts the proper authorities, and investigation is done, paperwork is filed, courts are involved and our legal system is burdened and our taxes increase. Anytime taxes increase, everything goes up in price, consumables, services, etc...

Additionally, if you own a business on a busy road, let's say a gas station, you'll have signs in your window, gas prices and other things to advertise. If someone puts a sign on your property or in the public ROW in front of your property, they're potentially robbing you of business. I explained this to a gas station owner two weeks ago and have seen a significant descrease in signs there. I hope it catches on.

And yet another point, if some other driver (I'm assuming you drive) is reading or writing down a number from a sign, they may have an accident, hopefully one that doesn't involve anyone else. Also, when these signs are being placed, they often block roads, driveways, pull out in front of other vehicles, walk across roadways, etc.. Again, every accident or situation that involves the law enforcement or any other Gov't agency costs the taxpayers money and I don't believe whoever (or whatever) caused the situation gets the bill in most cases.


The point about the tire iron is valid (I can't remember if it was this post or one before it) but the tire iron is secured with the spare tire and not floating around in the back seat somewhere that there can be "heat of the moment" access to it. That was the explanation I was given when I brought that up to my friend...he said it really depends on the officer and the percieved intent or the percieved usage of the implement.

My tire iron isn't always secured, neither is my aluminum flashlight, buck knife, or half a dozen other items. When stopped by an officer (doesn't happen often, I usually stop them), I roll down my window, keep hands on the wheel and look them in the eye and only look or reach back into the vehicle when told. They have enough to worry about out there. If approached when collecting signs, I make sure I have a direct route to my vehicle and call them out as to their intentions as early as possible. If there response or lack of isn't palatable, I move on and return later if need be. I always note the description, tag number and even carry a digital camera which I keep turned on by leaving it plugged in. My life is more valuable to my family and I than any amount of signs ever will be, which I'm sure goes for everyone on this board.


It's good to know the laws because it's possible I might have said something to someone I percieved as vandalizing or stealing a sign when now I know it's a private war going on over legal vs illegal advertising. It's actually kind of funny because I wouldn't have thought twice about asking someone NOT to put a sign up, but I might have said something to someone defacing or taking one.

If you do see someone putting a sign up, jot down the tag number, sign info and call the local CE. They will keep track of this. Also, if they did this on private property


I honestly came here to see what this was all about and even went one step further to ASK a friend who is in law enforcement about what I saw here and I get torched as a "Troll". I guess I stumbled on some secret society and it's a "You're with Us or against Us" club. I guess in those terms, I'm against CAUSS then because I just don't see myself being so moved by signs that I feel the need to take them down or deface them. If they were advertising something illegal or immoral, well, maybe, but I just can't get that worked up over something legal for sale.

I was impressed that you informed yourself before posting, most blurt out what comes to mind and hit the "Post Message" button. I don't believe you were labeled as a troll, the regulars were likely just being cautious. If you truly disagree with (mission?) of CAUSS, I'm personally interested as to why, maybe you can enlighten me, or at least I'll be better informed to the views of others.


I appreciate all the rest of you that took the time to respond intellegently to the couple of things I posted (admittedly, after re-reading my post, it probably came off as a bit self-righteous and that wasn't my intent). You got your message through to me and at least I understand what this is about now.

We're all self-righteous at times, except me of course. Hope you keep coming back.