If you are not sure if one of your state senators is on the Local Government committee which is where SB64 is now, however you need to contact them to stop this bill.
SB64, in committee now it is remarkably cynical piece of legislation. It would legalize political signs and open the legal door to commercial signs. It would be absolutely unenforceable and create a god-awful mess on the state's highways.
We are living in a time when the public's perception of politicians is as low as I have seen it in years. This just doesn't seem like the right time to generate even more exceptions for the politicos.
The solution to illegal signs is simple....zero tolerance and restoring 33.1-373 to its tough 1993 provisions, plus adding fine revenue sharing. Some politician is going to figure out sooner or later that the overwhelming majority of the public despises illegal signs, especially political signs.
Not only should you write you state senator, you should also try to get this info to your cities codes compliance director. I am also going to send this to my city council members.
I'd like more information about this bill. SB64 seems to subject someone who PRINTS signs to the same fine as the person who PLACES them in highway right of way. And the fine will be increased from $100 to $250.
What I read is that this bill is empowering local jurisdictions to enact laws to control this litter/spam. Then the specifically exclude their own political campaign signs! No surprise there. And Special Events signs must include the date of the event.
What scary is that defacing or removing legal signs will incur liability by the perpetrator towards the owner of what is essentially ABANDONED private property.
My plan is to spray paint a dot in the upper left hand corner the first time I see a new sign. Next time the dot goes in the upper right hand corner. Then the lower right. As long as I don't spray more than one a day, the sign will have been up at least three days and can now be removed.
Think of it, a system that wold inform good guys and bad guys that the spam was being monitored and when it is legal to remove.
PS: Fredrick Kunkle was the reporter who wrote the Dec 14 story in the Post. I have sent him a message to look into these bill.
