After every election in Maryland, teams from Montgomery County hit the road to remove illegally placed campaign signs from county roads.
Greg Nichols, code compliance manager at the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services, is clear about the issue: “It’s not safe. It’s not cool, and it’s illegal,” he said. These signs can distract drivers and often generate complaints, especially post-election. While many people see them as eyesores, Nichols prioritizes safety concerns.
The cleanup includes more than just political signs; nonprofits, community groups, and small businesses also post signs. Nichols questions their effectiveness, noting that small print on signs is unreadable from a moving vehicle.
Posting these signs can result in fines up to $500 in Montgomery County. Though fines can apply to each sign, Nichols’ team typically seeks an abatement order from District Court. If ignored, the responsible party could face contempt charges, but they aim to educate violators first, which often resolves the issue.
Montgomery County’s Department of Permitting Services handles complaints about signs along county roads but lacks authority over state roads like Georgia Avenue and Clopper Road, which fall under the State Highway Administration.
Nichols’ team has received positive feedback from residents about the clean-up efforts, with some thanking them as they remove signs in local neighborhoods. Recently, around 1,050 signs were collected in a few weeks. To report illegal signs, residents can use Montgomery County’s website or the Maryland Department of Transportation’s site for state roads.
