Sign law still toothless

Although, signs such as these are a problem, I do not think that they are a priority. More importantly, the problem is ALL TRASH. The kind of trash that needs attention is the kind that people throw out of their cars, that school children and adults throw into the streets, that residents fail to pick up around their house, etc. A clean neigborhood in the city and/or county would be nice for a change. Where is the No Littering signs? Signs that we can live with! Folks, how much trash has to fall before we all pitch in and get rid of it?

That's because the law is garbage. How do you determine a sign owner? What if a competitor made the signs just to create regulatory action against that competitor?

Tear the signs down -- fine. Cite any caught posting the signs -- fine. But there is a serious evidentiary issue in trying to cite someone for doing something when you didn't see them doing it.

Trash Signs: I agree whole-heartedly.

Besides the "We Buy Houses" guys, the biggest violators of this law are political candidates. Maybe that has something to do with the lack of enforcement.

We are always reading about how the city needs more money going into the coffers. Not enough for this, cut out that. Seems like $200 fines per sign could really help.
Isn't this a no-brainer?

I agree with you Trash sign, if everybody (everybody meaning ALL) would clean up their own front and back yard the whole world would be clean.

Yes... god forbid we ask the bureaucracy workers of Baltimore City to actually do any work. They'd whine to their Union.

Another halfa$$ed Martin O'Malley screwup, pass a law that can't be enforced.

Trash Signs wrote:

Although, signs such as these are a problem, I do not think that they are a priority. More importantly, the problem is ALL TRASH. The kind of trash that needs attention is the kind that people throw out of their cars, that school children and adults throw into the streets, that residents fail to pick up around their house, etc. A clean neigborhood in the city and/or county would be nice for a change. Where is the No Littering signs? Signs that we can live with! Folks, how much trash has to fall before we all pitch in and get rid of it?

I agree... Too many laws that are unenforced, useless.

But this is a nice attempt by this reporter to not just rehash statistics, Associated Press-type stuff, and actually do some meaningful reporting... not bad.

Now if we could just tackle the real issues.

This Paper needs to step up, it is located in a goldmine of news, if it would just see beyond its self.

Omalley think sthat what ever he says or does is the Law he often tries to get around the constution. He need to be reeled in. When will the people of maryland wake up and start demanding better leadership. Never I guess and the people in Annapolis know this and continue to do what they want.

Enforcement of this type is very low on the totem pool. Somewhere behind ahhhh gang related violence, teachers getting beat up, cops getting shot, little things like that. Oh and have you driven down North Avenue lateley? An entire street that runs damn near the length of the city and it's by and large blighted. Maybe if some of the owners of those properties would call the numbers on the signs then we might be able to fix up some of these delapedated buildings.

Property owners and community citizens should just take these signs down. If I see something in the NEIGHBORHOOD where I live I check with the neighbors about it and if it isn't one of us we take care of it. It is probably a bigger problem in the HOOD where no one cares about it and when they take something down they just let it there to rot in the street until the streetsweeper cleans it up or it biodegrades.

I dont know what your talking about. I sold my house to one of those guys last year. It was listed with a realtor for 8 months and no one even looked at my house. I called a sign after my listing expired and and had a check 2 weeks later. Leave the signs alone, they sure saved my butt.

It's just not Baltimore City. At the State Fair last year, someone had posted tons of those signs all over York Road and right in front of the fairgrounds where you walk in. Companies pay big money to advertise there and this guy got essentially free advertising. When people complained they didn't even bother to take down the signs. I honestly think some of these people are bribing officials into letting their signs stay up.

Unfortunately, what many have not realized is that the signs are themselves toxic waste. The plastic material is not recyclable and will wind up in the land fill. By enforcing the law, the City will STOP the bad acts of people who prey to profit and stop the pollution as well.

Who pays for the frauds of these scam artists? All of us...their scams lower everyone's housing values...lead to foreclosure...cause massize lossed on wall street which damage our children's colleges funds and other reirement investments...the community immage...the envirement. The list goes on and on. Remember that NYC cleaned itself up under Mayor G and changed so many other aspects of the City. Why can't the City of Baltimore do the same thing?

I post signs for my business (not real estate related) and I find it humorous how adamant some people are regarding signs. I like to think our services are in demand (I know this by the phone ringing) and the lawn signs are a very cost effective way to reach people. Those of us who post know it's a numbers game and most signs will be pulled as soon we drive away. However, because the signs are so effective, many of us will still post and hope for the best. Finally, the problem will not go away because of the number of new businesses that see this as a cheap method of advertising. These new businesses won't know the law and will be penalized for trying to earn a living. My advice...lighten up and play the game. "We Post...You Pull." Besides, if you don't pull the signs, the lawn service will.

Sign Poster wrote:

I post signs for my business (not real estate related) and I find it humorous how adamant some people are regarding signs. I like to think our services are in demand (I know this by the phone ringing) and the lawn signs are a very cost effective way to reach people. Those of us who post know it's a numbers game and most signs will be pulled as soon we drive away. However, because the signs are so effective, many of us will still post and hope for the best. Finally, the problem will not go away because of the number of new businesses that see this as a cheap method of advertising. These new businesses won't know the law and will be penalized for trying to earn a living. My advice...lighten up and play the game. "We Post...You Pull." Besides, if you don't pull the signs, the lawn service will.

Thank you sir, you win ignorant douchebag of the year award! Congratulations and may your offspring all die of rectal cancer.

I think most sign makers are the hard core drugie types, who are paranoid of everyone watching them, as if everyone were stalking them. Being paranoid and involved with drugs, makes them more than just suspicious of others, but out right aggressive, hostile, and arrogant towards others.

Wow, Margie. You prove my point about your passion for little things. Now you want my children to die and you begin ad hominem attacks on people who are trying to make a living! Lighten up for gods sake!