Business owners asked to help remove illegal signs

(November 27, 2007) - Ward 3 Councilman Larry McAtee is encouraging business owners to help beautify Oklahoma City by picking up signs illegally placed along their City right of way.

“If property owners and business managers pitch in by cleaning up their patch of right of way, they can be the City’s best ally in our fight against sign blight,” said Councilman McAtee.  “A little effort from every business owner will go a long way to eradicating the litter problem.”

Zoning Inspector John Wilson said the placards are often replaced on the same street corners within hours after his crews remove them.  Busy corners along arterial streets attract the most signs.  “Immediacy is the key to success.  The faster the signs get picked up the less cost effective it is for advertisers,” Wilson said.

City crews completed a Citywide Sign Sweep in early November, throwing away more than 4,000 signs over a five-day period.  The signs included plastic placards, real estate signs and handmade garage sales signs that had been left in medians, along curbs, nailed to utility poles and left in other areas long prohibited by City ordinance.

The City’s Planning Department employs two part-time workers who pick up illegal signs year round.  The duo has impounded more than 30,000 illegally placed signs since January. 

According to Wilson, prosecution can be challenging and many of the worst

offenders, like those peddling insurance and offering to buy homes, work hard to cover their tracks.  “They know their form of advertising is illegal and go to surprising lengths to elude inspectors,” said Wilson.

The fine for repeat offenders is $500.  For more information about sign enforcement, call 297-2328.