The Post visited the Pierce County Central Maintenance Facility (aka Elk Plain Road Shop) today and found piles of campaign and other signs that have been collected by Public Works staff. They want you to know that they generally do not remove campaign signs, but if a campaign sign is down, it is considered derelict and they take it to the road shop. The signs stay there about 2 weeks and if they are not retrieved, they are taken to recycling. As you can see from our photos, there are plenty to retrieve.

Public Works is in the middle of a road sweep for signs that are illegally placed. Signs that are attached to county road signs or nailed to bridges are subject to this removal. They are illegal placements and will end up in the pile at the shop. WSDOT is not so forgiving. When they make a sweep, they immediately get rid of the signs.

Campaign signs cost anywhere from$4 to $10 apiece. By the time volunteers build and distribute them around the district, the time and effort is considerable. It is frustrating for the candidates to have people trash their signs. It is equally frustrating to have them in the wrong place and be removed by the county or state crews.

Since the 2012 census prompted boundary changes for all the local political districts, there’s a lot more signs for many candidates you haven’t necessarily heard of on our roadways. Being close to multiple legislative boundaries, makes the number of signs even more confusing. Here’s a few links to information about political signs. And if you live in a homeowners association with covenants and want to put up a sign, the US Supreme Court says it is your Constitutional right. Tell the homeowners association to read this RCW 64.38.034 written by the state after the decision.

Letter from WSDOT Secretary of Transportation to candidates.

Attorney General’s Opinion on campaigning related offenses and regulations. RCW 9.61.010 (15), makes it a misdemeanor “willfully or maliciously” to remove, damage or destroy  any “. . . sign or notice erected or posted by . . . the owner or occupant of the premises where posted.” 

Political Signs State Sign Regulations

The Department of Transportation and the Attorney General have provided the following information to all candidates regarding placement of signs and placards along state highways. (bolded by editor)

“Reference RCW 47.42, the Scenic Vistas Act, restricts signage on Interstate Highways, all Federal Aid Primary Highways, and the entire Scenic and Recreational Highway System. (editor: Mountain Highway and Meridian) Signs erected adjacent to Federal Aid Interstate, Federal Aid Primary, the Scenic System, and the Scenic and Recreational designated routes must be in conformance with the Scenic Vistas Act with regard to size, spacing and local zoning restrictions. Such signs must be placed under authority of a permit issued by the Department of Transportation, at an annual fee of ten dollars ($10) per sign face, per calendar year.

In addition to the above restrictions, the posting of advertising signs within the right-of-way of all state highways is illegal. Accordingly, any sign placed within the right-of-way of any state highway will be removed by the Department of Transportation.

To assist with any questions regarding the placement of signs for political campaigns, please contact the Pierce County Transportation District Engineer at (253) 798-7250. Both the Department of Transportation and the Office of the Attorney General trust that all candidates for public office will observe the 1971 law, enacted to protect and preserve the roadside beauty of Washington State.

Washington State Department of Transportation District Advertising Control Representatives for Pierce County:

Department of Transportation

(360) 357-2620
5720 Capitol Blvd.
P.O. Box 47440
Olympia, WA 98504-7440” 

Pierce County Sign Removal Program link Missing signs? Check the Pierce County Central Maintenance Facility, 4812 196th Street E, Spanaway, WA 98387.