It happens every year around election time. “Somebody is stealing political signs,” a reader will call in to the newspaper office. The first advice is to check with the local TxDOT office in town. Candidates have been known to end up collecting their political signs from the back of a government truck, after workers have cleared the road of those illegally placed in the right-of-way. All political advertising, meant to be seen from the road, must carry a “right-of-way” notice, usually appearing underneath a political disclaimer. The text should read as follows: NOTICE: IT IS A VIOLATION OF STATE LAW (CHAPTERS 392 AND 393, TRANSPORTATION CODE) TO PLACE THIS SIGN IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OF A HIGHWAY. It is illegal to place any signs on or within the right-of-way. This includes posting signs on trees, telephone poles, traffic signs and other objects on the right-of-way. Campaign signs may be placed on private property, but only after securing the owner’s permission. Always check with the applicable ordinances before placing a sign inside of incorporated city limits. If your political sign has been placed in the right-of-way or it is posing a traffic hazard, TxDOT will remove it without prior notice. All costs associated with sign removal are subject to be paid by the sign owner. For more information about right-of-way requirements for political signs, visit online at txdot.gov. For information about political advertising, go online to www.ethics.state.tx.us.
