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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 10, 2005 Advertisements like these that pop up around town like weeds are most likely illegally placed in the city�s right of way, according to the city�s code enforcement officer. At best, the city removes them; at worst, the offender pays a stiff fine. Sign of the times Medford officials battle unauthorized advertising signs throughout the city By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Medford’s code enforcement officer has a trunk full of illegal advertising signs he’s pulled up from the city right-of-way — typically next to busy intersections and streets. "It’s no different than spam," said Joe Jimenez, code enforcement officer. "It becomes litter." He said when he sees them, he removes them. "As a rule, they’re usually being placed on public right of way," said Jimenez, adding that when he catches the person putting the signs out, he can issue up to a $150 citation. One such example is an advertisement for a teeth whitening program called Love Your Smile. Advertisement Libby Baker-Watson recently put those up, but only after consulting the city planning department, she said. "None of the signs that I have put out are in the public right of way," said Baker-Watson. "Some are on private property and we did ask permission of the property owners." She said she checked with the city planning department, and has been careful about placing the signs on private property, not public right-of-way. She said there are a couple spots where she put up signs that there were other advertising signs up. But Jimenez said many signs are on public property, and he’s been playing phone tag with Baker-Watson to explain the rules. But she’s not alone. He said another example is the College Works Painting signs put in the public right-of-way in the summertime by a business in Santa Ana, Calif. He said he’s reviewed the rules with the company, and pulled up a lot of their signs. Larry Beskow, city engineer, said it’s not always easy to tell where city property ends. He said typically the right-of-way ends just past the edges of sidewalks, but it could be as much as 15 feet from the edge of the road. He said often the edge of the right-of-way is where the utility poles are. If people want to put signs up, they should contact the planning department, said Summer Newcombe, planning aide with the city of Medford. She said the city issues sign permits, ranging in price from $5 to $15, after reviewing the application to make sure the sign placement is legal and doesn’t impede drivers’ visibility. There are exceptions to the permit requirement, she said. A person can put up to two signs that are 6 square feet or smaller on a lot in a residential zone, and up to four signs that are 3 square feet or smaller in a commercial or industrial zone, she said, with the property owner’s permission. The rules are similar in the county. Mike Kuntz, code enforcement manager for Jackson County, said for the most part, the county doesn’t allow for sign placement within the public right-of-way. "The planning code allows for those signs to be in there if they get a permit from the county," he said. "We’ve never issued any permits." He said usually the county road right-of-way is 60 feet wide, or 30 feet on either side of the road’s center line. "Generally speaking, the power poles are located very close to the edge of the right of way," he said. People may place temporary signs of up to 32-square-feet in size on private property in the county, with the property owner’s permission, for up to six months, he said. Reach reporter Meg Landersat 776-4481 or e-mail Sign of the times ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Advertisement s