Signs; provides local government authority to regulate. (HB553)
Introduced By
Del. Danny Marshall (R-Danville)
Progress
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Introduced |
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Passed Committee |
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Passed House |
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Passed Senate |
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Signed by Governor |
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Became Law |
Description
Regulation of signage in highway rights of way. Permits local governing bodies to adopt ordinances to control and enforce signage regulation in public highway rights of way. The locality may treat a violation of its sign control ordinance as a zoning violation and impose a penalty that it may then retain. The term excavate is amended so installing a sign by pushing metal, plastic, or wooden poles is not deemed excavation. Amends § 15.2-2286 (“Permitted provisions in zoning ordinances; amendments; applicant to pay delinquent taxes; penalties.”), § 33.1-373 (“Advertising on rocks, poles, etc., within limits of highway; civil penalty.”), § 33.1-375.1 (“Commissioner may enter into certain agreements; penalties.”), § 56-265.15 (“Definitions; calculation of time periods.”), § 56-265.15:1 (“Exemptions; routine maintenance.”), of the Code of Virginia. View Full Text »
Comments
First, check with Miss Utility and you will find out that real estate companies have caused gas line problems at least 49 times when they've excavated for their signs, so that word should stay in.
Second, holding volunteers personally liable is a travesty. Roadside signage is a particularly heinous type of litter because it impairs the safety of motorists, pollutes the scenery and the wire frames endanger those trying to mow. If the signs are posted on utility poles they endanger utility workers.
To compound this litter by penalizing volunteers who help reduce it sounds like you’re trying to protect the companies who pay for this advertising litter and their paid subcontractors that put the litter there in the first place. It also sounds like politicians just want to put their signs where they want to, and are rolling over everyone else.
Please don’t penalize or criminalize volunteers who are working daily to keep their communities clean. If anything, give us legislation that makes our volunteer load easier and protects us.
With the use of technology – e-mail, radio, Facebook, Twitter, Craigslist, Google groups, automated phone calls, GPS – to get the word out, there is no reason for roadside advertising signs.