Time to take down campaign signs, city says
Posted at: 11/07/2012 3:46 PM
| Updated at: 11/07/2012 6:37 PM
By: Eddie Garcia, KOB Eyewitness News
After a long and grueling campaign, the election is over.
The city said now it's time to take down political signs on public and private land.
"They have to be removed within ten days after the election," said Albuquerque code enforcement head Brennon Williams.
Signs in road medians or on sidewalks are considered to be in violation, because they block public rights-of-way.
The city is getting rid of those type of signs immediately.
The city said at this point they've found thousands of signs blocking public rights-of-way. Now they're collecting them and taking them to the Pino Yard near I-25 and San Antonio.
"Candidates can go out and if they wish to do so, collect those signs that have been collected that were placed improperly to begin with," said Williams.
After about a month, the signs will either be recycled or trashed.
But for those signs that stay up past the ten day deadline there are consequences for property owners and candidates.
"If we've tried and tried and tried, to get them to do what they need to do, we can initiate a criminal complaint, we can take them to court," said Williams.
That can lead up to a $500 fine or jail time, but the city said that kind of punishment is rare because most candidates don't want their names associated with breaking the law.
 |
Tweet |
|
