With less than a month before the June 8 election, political
signs have found temporary homes throughout the county
– and with few code violations to this point, according to
county officials.
With less than a month before the June 8 election, political signs have found temporary homes throughout the county – and with few code violations to this point, according to county officials.
In compliance with California Election Code, elections signs are not to be posted on public property, head elections official Joe Paul Gonzalez noted. But they can be placed on private property with permission from owners.
Signs, in turn, are banned on such thoroughfares as the newly-constructed Highway 25 bypass, said Lisa Rheinheimer, Council of San Benito County Governments executive director.
“They are not allowed to have signs on that public property or in the public right-of-way,” she said.
Caltrans handles highways, while the city and county governments oversee those public properties.
“Caltrans does a good job of getting rid of signs that don’t belong,” Rheinheimer said.
Overall, county officials have noticed few violations.
“We haven’t had many problems yet,” Gonzalez said.
When signs first were permitted, the county had some issues with candidates placing signs on the bypass, but it was because they didn’t know they couldn’t do so, Rheinheimer said. Signs are allowed to be posted 90 days before the election.
“Once we told them they couldn’t go there, we had no complaints,” she said.
Candidates are allowed to place signs on private property nearby those roads, though, if the owner agrees.
“As long as it’s on private property, I don’t care,” Rheinheimer said. “Just because you can see them on the highway doesn’t mean it’s not on private property.”
The city also has not noticed any violations, Code Enforcement Officer Mike Chambless said.
“There have been no problems that I know of,” he said.
Signs are prohibited on any public land or right-of-way, Gonzalez said. Signs cannot be larger than 32 square feet and they must be at least 60 feet from any freeway. They must be removed 10 days after the election.
Most of the county’s past problems take place after the election, when candidates are slow to remove their signs, Gonzalez said.
Before the signs were allowed to be posted, each candidate was given a packet by the county describing where he or she can place signs. Each candidate is required to sign a statement of responsibility.
