From the Des Moines Register:

Des Moines wins court case on 'bandit signs,' collects 700 monthly
by Josh Hafner

The city of Des Moines is at war with "bandit signs."

Signs illegally advertising politicians, real estate and business opportunities on public property are being systematically targeted by multiple Des Moines departments, the city announced on Tuesday, collecting more than 700 signs monthly.

In a detailed release, the city highlights a recent court decision that upheld its ban on the signs:

On June 8th, in the case the City brought against Defendant Justin Lewis, the defendant was found guilty of placing “Cash for Junk Cars” signs in the right-of-way and required to pay a $750 fine. The defendant was also ordered to remove any existing signs and is permanently banned by the court from placing any additional signs in the city’s right-of-way.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/06/19/des-moines-wins-court-case-on-bandit-signs-collects-700-monthly/

http://www.dmgov.org/NewsDocuments/20120619IowaDistrictCourtUpholdsCitySBanOfIllegalSignsInRightOfWay.pdf

>The defendant was also ordered to
>remove any existing signs and is permanently banned by the
>court from placing any additional signs in the city’s
>right-of-way.

Perfect example of our government at work... How do you permanently ban somebody from something that’s already illegal???????

Paul

Making a positive difference!

This is good news, in all.

Dallas invoked an "end beneficiary rule" which means that no matter who is caught placing the sign, the end beneficiary of the sign is considered responsible and is fined.

I recall that they hauled one guy in to court and fined him for several signs and kept 20 or so signs in escrow. The court said that if he ever placed another illegal sign that he would be fined for the signs in escrow - which would have amounted to thousands of dollars.

This approach could be used by all cities - except Colorado Springs, which is now run by the real estate mafia and allows signs to be placed "on the weekend".

DenverShark

Expanded version of the story:

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/06/20/des-moines-redoubles-efforts-to-fight-bandit-signs/

Thanks twangster for the news story. Please keep posting them, because they are interesting stories to read proving the CAUSS. It also keeps the trolls in check. Without a fresh story, people forget the fast and furious lawbreakers are not good for any community.

On this particular story, the fine of $750 is the profit off ONE car purchased. The only major problem for this lawbreaker is the loss of future profits.

One problem for the city is this lawbreaker’s business partner will now be doing the identical things in the future. Fines from code enforcement (CE) should be good enough, however a court order to produce the evidence seems to be the future way to stop lawbreakers from normal business procedures. $750 in the beginning is just the small cost of doing business. These spammers have no reputation, and there LIES a big issue for illegal street signs.

I would be happy to have my local "cash for cars" guy NOT place signs under any court order for any location. Around here (20+ cities), they like to keep the city workers employed, I guess. Some cities are better than others in this metroplex. I’m sure he’s been run out of several towns, but the signs keep popping up in places. A court order would save many cities, many dollars.

After reading this, it’s a call to action people. Call CE on every sign’s location. One complaint per location will help everyone involved. This is many phone calls, emails, or the preferred method of contact, for weeks and months. Use your iphone sign application, yet to be invented—hint- hint for someone. With no complaint, CE has no reason to pick up the litter. We win a clean neighborhood by taking action. Contact your representative.