The signs are not readable from the driver’s seat, but the message is clear to someone hoping to post signs for garage sales or real estate companies.
“It is unlawful to post or attach any garage sale, lost pets or any type of advertising of any kind on regulatory signs or posts in the city of Clarkston’s right-a-ways [sic]. Violators of this will be prosecuted under city ordinance and Michigan vehicle codes.”
City Manager Art Pappas said the law is not new. The new signs, located directly under stop signs, are simply another attempt to communicate to those who may not know.
“If it’s a garage sale or something like that we don’t get bent out of shape,” Pappas said, but there have been blatant violators, such as a company advertising Dumpsters.
“We’ve been trying to get them for a long time,” he said, noting the lack of an address for the company and less than obedient response to telephone calls.
Utility companies have long tried to advise the public against use of utility poles for neighborhood signs, because of safety problems caused by nails and staples.
“Basically, we’re trying to get the litter down,” Pappas said, especially since folks tend to forget to remove signs and posters once they’ve been posted.
It’s a problem with garage sales, political campaign signs (which by law should be on private property anyway) and others.
Pappas said the Department of Public Works has posted the new warning signs, and they may be forgiven for an ulterior motive.
“They get tired of ripping [illegal signs] down,” Pappas said.