mrfootball Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 (edited) "The third time was the charm for the "bandit sign" bill, House Bill 413, which revises the state transportation code that deals with the illegal signs. It makes individuals or companies who advertise on the signs, or those who authorize a person to place the signs along roadways, subject to fines."This is truly good news. I tire of seeing street spam. This new law should put some teeth into enforcement and help clean up our roadways.http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/cyf...ws/4845264.html Edited May 31, 2007 by mrfootball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Since I doubt this will be enforced, I recomment people with camera phones post photos of the offenders here. It may or may not shame them into not polluting our neighborhoods, but at least it will give us a list of businesses to avoid giving our money to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Since I doubt this will be enforced, I recomment people with camera phones post photos of the offenders here. It may or may not shame them into not polluting our neighborhoods, but at least it will give us a list of businesses to avoid giving our money to.The ordinance in Houston isn't enforced. HPD is hesitant to pull over, pick up signs, them load them into their trunk. There also used to be a City sign-admin email where you can report the offenders, but that is gone from the website for some reason. Maybe there've been court battles where the businesses say, "I didn't put those signs out there, someone's trying to get me fined".It ends up where citizens have to pull them up.......constantly. Maybe the County will have a better system of enforcement.Editor, I like your idea too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfootball Posted June 1, 2007 Author Share Posted June 1, 2007 (edited) This law changes the existing law which was harder to enforce, because you had to catch the person who was planting the sign. Now, they can simply go after the advertiser.I would be surprised if the government didn't jump all over a big revenue generator like this will surely be at $500-$1000 per violation. Edited June 1, 2007 by mrfootball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 If I had to choose between enforcement of panhandling and bandit signs - I'd pick the pandhandlers. Of course like Editor said, these type laws are never enforced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 hopefully they will WRITE TICKETS! in my old hood, the police officers would harass the businesses to the point where they would put out their signs on sat and pick them up on sunday for new neighborhood advertising. but this only lasted for about a yr or so. as for panhandling.....i believe the chron filed some legal action when the paper sellers were caught up in the city's attempt to stop panhandlers. but i agree it is getting bad. a few weeks ago a guy was playing the trumpet on the median at woodridge and 45south. i will have to say that is a first for me at that particular intersection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Marty Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Those signs clog the storm drains in my hood so i collect them and use the 1x2 sticks for my bean garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDeb Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 I knew one city that made a bunch of stickers that said "ILLEGAL SIGN" and slapped them on all the illegal signs. The logic was that as soon as you removed a sign, it would pop right back up like a weed. But the stickers brought more attention to the violation and then the signs were removed after a week or two.Of course, this was a much smaller city than Houston. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 I knew one city that made a bunch of stickers that said "ILLEGAL SIGN" and slapped them on all the illegal signs. The logic was that as soon as you removed a sign, it would pop right back up like a weed. But the stickers brought more attention to the violation and then the signs were removed after a week or two.Of course, this was a much smaller city than Houston.I've seen them (the city) pick up bandit signs and they just yank them down and toss them in the back of the truck before driving to the next intersection. If the new ordinance is in place, I wonder if they have to do any form of documentation as far as location of the signs go before they track them down. I would imagine they would be overwhelmed with the task and would (at least initially) slow down the process until people actually start getting fined!I know if I was a poster of those signs, once I get a few tickets, I might stop unless the revenue generated by them exceeds the amount of the tickets. I just hope it's enforced properly where it won't be easily challenged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Neighborhood associations are good at getting rid of them (Williamsburg Settlement is a terrific example). As soon as they are put up along the median they are gone within 5 minutes. Every time. Last I heard, they have moved on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Does this cover campaign signs?Michael Berry should be nervous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Does this cover campaign signs?Michael Berry should be nervous.yes it does. melissa noriega is the current bandit sign violator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Some of these bandit signs are very nice. Made of solid wood with molding, etc. Not just a cheap ole stick sign.I've always wanted to take a chainsaw to the big ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 The ordinance in Houston isn't enforced. HPD is hesitant to pull over, pick up signs, them load them into their trunk. There also used to be a City sign-admin email where you can report the offenders, but that is gone from the website for some reason. Maybe there've been court battles where the businesses say, "I didn't put those signs out there, someone's trying to get me fined".It ends up where citizens have to pull them up.......constantly. Maybe the County will have a better system of enforcement.Editor, I like your idea too.A little self-help on the part of the citizenry is not a bad thing. If residents can't be bothered to pick up litter, they should not complain that overworked police officers do not do it. I see the value of this statute being that residents who pick up the signs will be better protected against the sign owners complaints.Pics of offenders is good, too. The signs are for publicity. Bad publicity will make them think twice about the value of the ad campaign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 I need to repost the picture of me ripping a "Michael Berry for Mayor" sign out of a 100 year old Live Oak. He's the OG. I sent it to him under the title "Berry Tree". The signs are for publicityMaybe. But who in the world actually calls some of the podunk business who put up these signs?"Auto Headliner Repair", "We Buy Houses", "Quick Weight Loss". I know I never would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heights2Bastrop Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 Before I left Houston, DB Horton was building townhomes on E TC Jester between Ella and the North Loop. I never counted, but I would guess they put out some 200 signs along that stretch of Jester, and some 20-30 in a group. A big offender here in Bastrop is Lennar/Nuhome. These signs (and stakes) should be burned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonmacbro Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 "The third time was the charm for the "bandit sign" bill, House Bill 413, which revises the state transportation code that deals with the illegal signs. It makes individuals or companies who advertise on the signs, or those who authorize a person to place the signs along roadways, subject to fines."This is truly good news. I tire of seeing street spam. This new law should put some teeth into enforcement and help clean up our roadways.http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/cyf...ws/4845264.htmlI saw a big story on this morning when I was on the ellpitical at the gym (I think it was Channel 11) ... anyhow, I wonder how much enforcement is going to be done, especially when the next story they showed was about the number of broken HPD cruisers and them not having money to buy new ones.I think out of control signage is a pretty low priority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Anyone going to take some pictures this weekend? C'mon. Don't be shy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Marty Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 (edited) There is a Ted Poe 4'X8' campaign sign still up at Aldine Westfield and Treaschwig area. If he knew it was there he would have it removed. Edited June 3, 2007 by Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmancuso Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 if a cop picks up a sign that has a business' information on it, could that business be fined?would anyone refinance their $200,000 home through someone who stuck a $2 sign on the corner of harwin and hilcroft? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinUther Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 Some of these bandit signs are very nice. Made of solid wood with molding, etc. Not just a cheap ole stick sign.I've always wanted to take a chainsaw to the big ones.Someone actually did. There was a big well built sign as you approach the corner of Telge and 290 heading NW. It was probably the actual property ownerthat cut it down. Whoever it was cut both the 4x4 posts about midway up so that the top part of the sign rested upside down and backwards for weeks. I think that like the "illegal sign" stickers, allowing the sign to be seen there was a message being sent to all. From the property owners to those who had seen it, the message was "we didn't endorse this". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardygirl Posted July 26, 2007 Share Posted July 26, 2007 interesting. i was driving east on 1960 yesterday (in front of willowbrook mall) and noticed bright orange "citation" stickers on three large home builder signs. the signs are still standing, but at least they got a visible hand slap. looks like somebody is taking action out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Marty Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 There is a Ted Poe 4'X8' campaign sign still up at Aldine Westfield and Treaschwig area. If he knew it was there he would have it removed.Somebody removed his sign several days ago but the other "Houses starting at $$$" signs still remain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 this goes into effect on the 1st. before the officer had to physically be there when someone was erecting a sign, now they don't. should be interesting particularly with a $500 fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyHomeHouston Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 I tried to read the article, but it looks like it's no longer available or moved. Just curious: What's the consensus on directional open house signs that are up for about 5 hours directing traffic to the particular open house in the area? Are these signs included with the new ordinance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Just curious: What's the consensus on directional open house signs that are up for about 5 hours directing traffic to the particular open house in the area? Are these signs included with the new ordinance?they are illegal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyHomeHouston Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Thanks you for clearing that up for me. I'll be sure to pass the news around our office to make sure no one gets slapped with a fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Thanks you for clearing that up for me. I'll be sure to pass the news around our office to make sure no one gets slapped with a fine.talk about easy money for the city/county....we'll just have to see how it is enforced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Good heavens! that means if you have a competitor that you wish ill will on, you can just put up some signs that advertises their business. not that anyone would ever do that, mind you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Marty Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Or a disgruntled neighbor who puts up garage sale signs all over the place with your address on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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