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With Top Shark's permission, I'm going to start posting news stories in separate threads, instead of in the large media thread.
Here are 2 related stories from Houston:
From KIAH-TV: http://www.39online.com/news/local/kiah-bandit-signs-mobile,0,3977221.story (includes video)
Bandit Signs, Harris County Attorney's Office Targets Business Owners
Mayra Moreno
January 5, 2011
Chances are you have seen signs posted on poles on the side of the road and they're illegal.
One organization is making sure they come down and stay out of their neighborhood.
On highway 249 near Cypresswood Dr. business owners are hoping to grab your attention but there's a problem.
"Absolutely illegal," said Larry Lipton with the Cypress Creek Coalition.
They're called bandit signs.
"They've also been called trash on a stick," said Lipton.
Lipton, a member of the Cypress Creek Coalition, is one of several residents trying to clean up the community.
"They just don't care how our community looks and I'm offended by that," said Lipton.
The organization want to bring then down and keep them off.
"It's a big deal they are illegal everywhere in the state of Texas," said Lipton.
Under the Texas Transportation code, chapter 393: "A person may not place a sign on the right of way of a public road unless the placement is authorized by state law".
The law passed in 2007.
"(The fine is) five hundred dollars per sign per day," said Lipton. "We have a team of volunteers who go all over this community they tear down some of them but first of course they try to call the offenders let them know its illegal."
We called some of the business owners but they didn't know it was illegal.
The Harris County Attorney's office is going after the business. Already several law suits are pending.
"We won't tolerate it," said Lipton.
It's a message, they hope is loud and clear.
Under the law, people called "rangers" are trained to spot the signs. They report their findings to the county and if they're illegal the county then files a lawsuit.
Copyright © 2011, KIAH-TV
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From Houston Community Newspapers:
http://www.hcnonline.com/champions/news/article_132ffd82-1848-11e0-a4ea-001cc4c002e0.html
Cypress Creek residents take on bandit signs
By SATARA WILLIAMS The Sun Staff | 0 comments
Posted on January 4, 2011
In an effort to tackle illegal bandit signs, several residents have taken a hands-on approach in removing the postings themselves.
"I think it looks trashy," Ken Latimer, coordinator of the Cypress Creek Community Coalition's Bandit Sign Removal initiative, said. "It looks like people are littering the streets and they are."
House Bill 413 was passed in 2007 making it illegal to post signs in public rights of way, an offense punishable by a fine up to $1,000 a day for every violation.
Yet, four years later, many signs are continuing to pop up along the roadways, especially on F.M. 1960.
"It's cheap advertisement that appears to be successful," Latimer said. "If we pull down 300 on F.M. 1960 in a few days then how would you count how many total are in the county?"
Bandit signs are generally used by companies as a means to promote their services.
In several cases, community builders and realtors utilize the posters in order to direct residents to a new home.
Using such a tactic is oftentimes expected, Chief Political Strategist for the Houston Association of Realtors Dana Kervin said.
"Sometimes sellers expect realtors to put out the signs to direct potential buyers to their home," Kervin said. "They might ask their realtors ‘how are you promoting the sell of my house?'"
However, she said, realtors are up to date on the law.
"They're not placed in the rights of way. Realtors are educated about not doing that," Kervin said. "They'll ask if they can put it in private properties."
However, some companies outside of the housing industry are advertising their business with the sign postings.
The Sun reached out to one company in particular that has several signs illegally posted along F.M. 1960, offering the selling and buying of gold.
However, the owner of the business did not wish to comment on the issue.
While some consider illegal bandit signs to be merely a nuisance others believe the issue goes much deeper and could lead to more crimes.
"It's the same way with bandit signs," Larry Lipton, co-chairman of the Cypress Creek Community Coalition, said. "When you let a community deteriorate and you show that you don't have pride in that community the bad guys say ‘it's open season'."
Throughout the month, members of the Cypress Creek Coalition orchestrate the removal of illegal bandit signs from F.M. 1960 and Louetta up to SH 249 and I-45.
Before they dispose of the signs, members inform the company owners about the law.
Doing so, Latimer said, is usually met with mixed reactions.
"A lot of the time they do cooperate but almost all the time they tell me that they're going to," he said. "And then sometimes they just tell me ‘too bad and if you mess with my sign then I'll sue you'."
But in actuality, the sign violators can be prosecuted for their postings.
In fact, residents can assist the Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan's Office by documenting the bandit signs and sending the pictures to communityprotection@harriscountyattorney.net.
"I'm more instrumental in applying the law and enforcing it at the community level," Cedric Loeb, senior assistant for the Harris County Attorney, said. "My duty is to enforce it when I can."
The County Attorney's Office investigates the cases and decides if there's a need for legal action.
"We've filed a number of lawsuits in the past," Loeb said. "Right now, we have about five or six in the pipeline and we're pursuing those."
In addition to their effect on the area's aesthetic appeal, bandit signs can impact the community's ability to thrive, according to Lipton.
"It's not just about the ugly police," Lipton said. "When you have a community that is not well-cared for and doesn't show pride you have more crimes and people that move away. It's just not good for business."
As bandit signs remain on the radar of many, the mission continues in ridding the area of the illegal postings and punishing violators.
"We have to convince them that there is going to be price to pay and we have to fine them. The other part is awareness for the public," Latimer said. "The public is part of the problem. The (signs) are up so people must be calling them."
Want to help?
Residents can get involved by enrolling in sign ranger training courtesy of the Harris County Constable's Office Precinct 4 and the Harris County Attorney's Office . To learn more, call (281) 580-1210.
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