Political Yard Signs

[richlevy]

As I mentioned in another thread, our homeowners association has rule banning yard signs. We have an informal allowance for political signs, but they are still technically prohibited.

It appears that some municipalities with rules banning or restricting yard signs are being challenged.

Though the debate in Lawrence was touched off when a member of Mr. Devers’s campaign complained that Lantigua’s signs were oversized, Burke’s office has recently changed its approach and begun issuing citations – including a couple for Devers signs - based on violations of the state building code rather than size restrictions; according to city rules, people installing any sign larger than eight square feet on buildings must obtain a permit in the interest of public safety.

In Lantigua’s view, the new strategy is an underhanded way to sidestep the shaky legal grounds on which the city’s political sign ordinance stands. He says he’s never seen the state building code applied to political signs before.

“I think this is one of those cases when I have to stand up and say, ‘You know what? That ordinance, it is unconstitutional and you need to modify it,’” he says.

The legal precedent that lower courts typically cite when ruling on political signs is the 1994 US Supreme Court case City of Ladue v. Gilleo. In a unanimous decision, the court struck down a law prohibiting signs at private residences and described residential yard signs as “a venerable means of communication that is both unique and important.”

The court declared that ordinances can regulate the time, place, or manner of political speech only if they also enable residents to express themselves through “ample alternative channels for communication.”

[dar512]

I think reasonable restrictions are ok. You wouldn't want your neighbor to have a 10'x12' flashing digital sign in the front yard.

[lumberjim]

only if he was a registered sex offender

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by dar512

I think reasonable restrictions are ok. You wouldn't want your neighbor to have a 10'x12' flashing digital sign in the front yard.

Electrified signs come under a whole different set of laws, political or not. But that's not what they're talking about and you know it.

[TheMercenary]

Here's your sign

[SamIam]

There don't seem to be too many signs in my town. Not sure why. It may be because this area is so heavily Republican, no one feels the need to state the obvious. I have an Obama sign in my yard, and at least haven't gotten any police citations or rocks through my windows - so far.

[HungLikeJesus]

It's a sign of the times.

[DanaC]

*chuckles*

Mate of mine always has banners and signs up come election time...he has had his windows put through a couple of times by the BNP. Fortunately he's built like a brick privy so if he sees them mucking about outside he runs out and they scarper.