City Of Edmond Fed Up With Campaign Signs Placed Illegally

Officials with the City of Edmond say they are fed up with campaign signs placed illegally along city streets. And now they say they will start handing out fines.

Signs placed on right-of-way, easements, or in a median are illegal. Edmond Code Enforcement calls them “litter on a stick” and, so far this campaign season, constantly cleaning up the signs has cost taxpayers in Edmond $13,000. They have had to pick up more than 3,000 signs.

“Our people have had to start work on weekends to regulate signs because candidates are putting them out trying to circumvent when they think staff will be out patrolling,” said Casey Moore with the City of Edmond.

Not only does the city have to pay workers to pick up the signs, stopping in the middle of traffic can be hazardous, and left over signs can damage mowers and city equipment. The city says they've warned candidates, asked them to pick up the signs and now are at the point where they will start issuing $249 fines.

“We don’t want to do that but if people are not going to comply that’s why the laws are in place,” said Moore.  

And this is not just an Edmond problem. The City of Oklahoma City says they pick up on average $30,000 campaign signs a year.