by Logan Gruber
operations@thenewsleaders.com
Recently, Stearns County officials released a notice reminding property owners of the improper placement of signs in highway rights-of-way.
The placement of campaign signs and other unauthorized objects in the highway rights-of-way is prohibited under state statute, the statement says. Campaign signs also may not be placed on private property outside of the right-of-way limits without the landowner’s consent. Highway rights-of-way typically include driving lanes, inside and outside shoulders, ditches and sight corners at intersections.
The county says crews will remove any illegally placed signs and impound them at local maintenance garages where they will be held for 10 days. Owners may come to claim their signs before the 10-day limit, but they may be discarded by the county if they are not claimed.
Violation of the statute is a misdemeanor, and the county warns civil penalties may also apply if a sign or other object contributes to a motor-vehicle crash which injures a person or damages a vehicle.
