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Scofflaw Signage Littering the Roadway

Posted by State Senator Jim Sullivan on Feb. 10, 2010 | 36 comments

Sullivan, Signage, Medians, Right of Way, Health Care, Transparency

We’ve all seen them, signs stuck in the media, or at an off ramp, asking “Looking for L-O-V-E? Call 1-800-GR8-DATE” or “Home foreclosing? Call our lending specialists at LENDN-4-U.” The business entities that produce these signs litter our roadways and block the line of sight on highways, creating distractions, interfering with the right of way, and causing an eyesore. And as we’ve seen with a number of so-called foreclosure specialists who plaster posters in our neighborhoods, these entities advertised can go from less than legitimate to downright criminal.

Right now, it’s against the law for an individual to place a sign in the right of way, but giving a small ticket to one person who is hanging signs will not solve the problem. In most cases, law enforcement never sees the individual who places the signs. There will still be businesses who produce scofflaw signs to spread their message without regard to public safety and the beauty of our neighborhoods. That’s why I introduced Senate Bill 457, which would create real penalties for business entities that produce these nuisance signs and place them in highway rights of way. 

My bill prohibits, with exceptions, a business entity from placing, or causing to be placed, any sign that advertises or promotes a business within a highway right of way. A business entity that violates this prohibition may be fined up to $50 for each sign.

This legislation only targets illegitimate propaganda machines that litter our streets. Signs advertising a yard sale, garage sale, rummage sale, church or fair event, or any similar event are exempt from this bill. The goal of Senate Bill 457 is to eliminate signs from fly-by-night scam artists, not to stop community members from advertising their yard sales.

The Senate Transportation Committee is expected to recommend passage of this bill tomorrow, which will make it eligible for a Senate floor vote.

Health Care Transparency Update

Another bill of mine passed unanimously in the Assembly Committee on Health and Healthcare Reform this afternoon. The Health Care Transparency Bill (Senate Bill 418/Assembly Bill 614) brings useful price information to the health care market. Under AB 614, health care providers will provide two things to consumers:

• An estimate of what they will charge for a service, assuming no medical complications
• A price list for the 25 services their specialty performs most frequently

The top 25 list will be in a format that is easily understood by consumers, not in medical jargon. 

This is also scheduled for a public hearing before the Senate Health Committee tomorrow.

If you have any questions about these bills, email me at Sen.Sullivan@legis.wi.gov.