County On Lookout For Illegal Signs

BROOKSVILLE - Mark Caskie has a word of warning for candidates who disregard the county's ordinance on campaign sign placement.

If your signs are placed on county right of way, they will be confiscated. No exceptions, says Caskie, the county's interim code enforcement director.

Since Dec. 1, 2007, when candidates were allowed to start posting because of the presidential preference primary, Caskie and his seven-person staff have picked up 222 signs from the right of way.

From May 1 through July 7, they've picked up 10.

"As the season heats up, we'll get more calls," he said.

Caskie said his department is notified of illegal signs by random rides through the county and by caller tips.

Once the sign is confiscated, code enforcement notifies the candidate, the property owner or the party headquarters about the ordinance violation.

The fine for a first offense is $100. Subsequent violations can go as high as $5,000, although that hefty a fine is rare.

While there is no limit on the number of signs placed on private property, the ordinance requires they can't be larger than six square feet.

"We usually don't have a lot of trouble with residential property," Caskie said. "Right of way is our biggest issue and sometimes the size."

Sometimes, a state legislator running in multiple counties may run afoul of the size requirements because each county's height restrictions vary. Typically, that is taken care of with a phone call to the candidate, Caskie said.

During the 2004 election year - which included a presidential primary -- code enforcement picked up 1,534 illegally placed campaign signs. In 2006, the department confiscated 1,371 signs.

The signs are disposed of at the county landfill. Some of the material is recycled. None of the candidate signs are returned to the owner.

Hernando County revised its sign ordinance in February. One of the revisions allowed candidates to post their signs earlier during a presidential election campaign such as 2008.

Otherwise, candidates must wait 45 days before an election before posting signs.

Supervisor of Elections Annie Williams said candidates are told of the sign policy when they receive their qualifying packets. After that, her department is out of it. Violations are handled strictly by code enforcement, she said.

Williams admitted there seemed to be an inordinate number of signs posted around the county. None of them are hers. Not yet.

"I will have a few," she joked. "But it's too early for me. My election's not until November."