Okay, for the last several weeks since I started sharking, someone has been hitting Franz Road from at least Katy/Ft. Bend Rd. all the way up to Fry. They were putting large yellow signs for Drama Kids and Dish Network out. These were obviously put out by the same person, sometimes as many as 14 per intersection. I've been getting as many as I can, and some unknown person helps out and gets what I can't get to.

Well, overnight they hit again, but this time it was just Dish Network signs (did Drama Kids give up???) Here is my question: This had to be someone with a big truck walking every corner of each intersection. At some time while they were doing this did a police officer not cruise by? Do they just ignore this activity? Why wouldn't they challenge and ticket the spammers?

I got 31 of those signs this morning, and that is probably not even half of them.

Susan

At some time while they were doing this did a police officer not cruise by? ----- Yes, often in fact.

Do they just ignore this activity? ---- Yes, apparantly

Why wouldn't they challenge and ticket the spammers? --- apathy? Ignorance? focus?

Susan:

There numerous issues to take into consideration when refering to actions about the police.
First, Local police do not normally pay much attention to a "live" activitiy unless it's something like a car being stolen or other suspicious movements.

Second issue that the Dish folks will normally use a work type van that is clearly marked where they can stand on the ladder rack and nail the sign high up on a pole. The police often mistake the Dish guys from the cable guys and think they are working on a cable problem.

The local Chief is not likely to have his officers keying in on the spammers unless the city manager or mayor has received a large number of complaints from the citizens.

Also the smaller town and cites, not that Katy falls in this category, will not have a large number of police on the midnight shift, especially in the very wee hours between three and four in the AM. Most night-time crimes are committed much earlier in the night.

On thing is, that the spammers will normally be out between 11 PM and Midnight when crime activity is high and accidents are being investigated. Again, the police will have a higher priority on these rather than the spammers putting up signs.

These are but a few and the list goes on and on. The number one on the list is usually, "That's not my job" and comes directly from the Chief unless the city manager or mayor has mandated otherwise. As an example, there is only one municipality the DFW MetroPlex where the police, as a whole, will stop and question a spammer.

However, with all the attention being drawn to the bandit signs from all over trhe country, the higher ups are beginning to get the PD's more proactively involved.

GW

As you know, jurisdiction for the area you described is under the Harris County Sheriff's Department versus the Katy Police. If you really want an answer to your question, you will probably have to ask the department over at the Clay Road Court House Annex. That's the nearest satelite base for our area. If you want to pursue it, and you have a right to know the answer, you could do it through a meeting with the partol commander. Otherwise, you'll only get everyone's opinion including mine! But serously, a meeting with the patrol commander has other benefits including being more familiar with and to those in law enforcement. Not a bad thing.

My take on what you've described is that the probability is low that law enforcement came by at the exact time the spammers were putting out the signs, although it can't be ruled out. I do know that Harris County law enforcement in the 1960 area have looked for and cited spammers in the past, but they also got a lot of pressure to do so from business leaders and residents fed up about their area being trashed. Bottom line is that we won't know West Harris County's approach until the department is asked.

By the way, this afternoon there are at least 30 fewer DISH signs out on Franz Road. As of Noon, it was clean from Katy Fort Bend over to Mason.

You have a tough nut to crack because no one has ever said enough is enough before and the use of those intersections is deeply rooted. It took several weeks of zero tolerance on the corners and streets that were important to me, but repeat offenders have not been seen now for 4 weeks. It's like dealing with roaches... you have to keep cleaning up for them to finally stay away.

As others have said, the police probably don't give it much priority. Meeting with the police administration is a very good idea since you and they may both be surprised. Things like code ordinance violations might even be outside of the authority of the police though this can be changed.

When it comes to the specifics of Dish TV signs, I encourage you to contact DishTV corporate. You want the department responsible for sales agents and affiliates. A few years ago I called DishTV (or maybe it was DirecTV, I forget) and spoke to this department and gave them the details of what the signs contained (the logo, the phone number, etc) and where they were located. Their standard spiel is that these are independent agents, they don't control them, etc. I pointed out that it was their logo, it made them look bad, and Dallas ordinances made them responsible. They mumbled and said they would look into it. This particular spammer had been at it for months and put out dozens of signs at a time. Within two weeks of my call, these signs no longer appeared. I like to think it was the result of my call.

Newbie (not)

Katy Sharkette - Please check your Private Mail Box for some added comments.
It'll will show up as a red flashing Icon on the left hand side, mid section of the home page.

GW