Political signs like these at the intersection of Turner McCall Boulevard and East First Street may be confiscated if they interfere with the public right of way. (Daniel Varnado / Rome News-Tribune)
The Georgia Department of Transportation sent out a reminder Wednesday that any sign along state routes and interstates must have a
permit and meet safety standards. Right of way is land reserved for infrastructure such as roads, railroads and utility lines.
“For safety’s sake, there are laws about where such signs can be placed,” said DeWayne Comer, GDOT
district engineer in Cartersville.
“As part of our routine maintenance work, the department will remove any and all unauthorized signs from our rights of way.”
The same rules hold for local rights of way, although Rome-Floyd County building official Howard Gibson said political signs haven’t been a problem this year.
“All the signs look like they’re in pretty decent shape,” he said. “A couple of them are fudging, but if they’re not too far out there we’ll just move them back.”
Gibson said if his crews see more than one or two signs encroaching on the public land, he would try to notify the candidate. If that doesn’t work, the signs would go into the trash.
Right now, though, he’s got his eye on some commercial signs that are in violation.
“I want to thank the candidates because it looks like they’re all trying to go by the regulations,” he said. “It makes life easier.”
Signs that are removed from rights of way by GDOT crews will be held for 30 days and then destroyed.
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