signal12's Blog

What are Snipe Signs you ask?

Snipe signs are a typical classification of prohibited signs. 

Snipe sign,   Any sign of any size, made of any material, including paper, cardboard, wood and metal, when such sign is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to trees, poles, fences or other objects, and the
advertising matter appearing thereon is not applicable to the premises upon which the sign is located.

You know you've seen them.

And then you have the illegal use of right of way..... Did you know the owners & companies can recieve HUGE FINES or JAIL TIME for doing this?!.

337.406  Unlawful use of state transportation facility right-of-way; penalties.--

Except when leased as provided in s. 337.25(5) or otherwise authorized by the rules of the department,

it is unlawful to make any use of the right-of-way of any state transportation facility,

including appendages thereto, outside of an incorporated municipality in any manner that interferes with the safe and efficient movement of people and property from place to place on the transportation facility. Failure to prohibit the use of right-of-way in this manner will endanger the health, safety, and general welfare of the public by causing distractions to motorists, unsafe pedestrian movement within travel lanes, sudden stoppage or slowdown of traffic, rapid lane changing and other dangerous traffic movement, increased vehicular accidents, and motorist injuries and fatalities.

 Such prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, the free distribution or sale, or display or solicitation for free distribution or sale, of any merchandise, goods, property or services; the solicitation for charitable purposes; the servicing or repairing of any vehicle, except the rendering of emergency service; the storage of vehicles being serviced or repaired on abutting property or elsewhere; and the display of advertising of any sort, except that any portion of a state transportation facility may be used for an art festival, parade, fair, or other special event if permitted by the appropriate local governmental entity. Local government entities may issue permits of limited duration for the temporary use of the right-of-way of a state transportation facility for any of these prohibited uses if it is determined that the use will not interfere with the safe and efficient movement of traffic and the use will cause no danger to the public.

The permitting authority granted in this subsection shall be exercised by the municipality within incorporated municipalities and by the county outside an incorporated municipality. Before a road on the State Highway System may be temporarily closed for a special event, the local governmental entity which permits the special event to take place must determine that the temporary closure of the road is necessary and must obtain the prior written approval for the temporary road closure from the department. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize such activities on any limited access highway. Local governmental entities may, within their respective jurisdictions, initiate enforcement action by the appropriate code enforcement authority or law enforcement authority for a violation of this section.  The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and other law enforcement agencies are authorized and directed to enforce this statute. The violation of any provision of this section or any rule promulgated by the department pursuant to this section constitutes a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, and each day a violation continues to exist constitutes a separate offense.

You've seen them before -- those plastic signs on street corners beckoning "WILL PAY $$$ FOR HOUSES," "LOSE 30 POUNDS FAST,"

"100% HOME FINANCING," and "$1000 A WEEK HOME BUSINESS," among other things.  Such signs, called "snipe signs",

"street spam," and "bandit signs," are illegal in almost every Florida municipality. The Zoning Code states ”any signs placed on public property, including rights-of-way,“ are prohibited. This includes snipe signs that frequently advertise questionable multi-level marketing or work-at-home schemes, dubious weight loss plans, credit repair and predatory lenders. Temporary directional signs, as in, Garage Sale signs and "Open House" real estate signs are usually tolerated. You can do a lot to stop street spam.  Snipe signs are no different than the any other litter you see strewn along the streets.

 Although a few misguided legitimate businesses use snipe signs, consider that most of the advertising you see nailed up on utility poles, resemble the irritating spam that fills your e-mail box.  Do you believe you can "get paid to lose 40 pounds?"  Do you think you can find a sound insurance policy or a competitive mortgage from someone who knowingly posts illegal signs? 

 Residents in Florida have every right to pick up trash from the road, or junk nailed to a utility pole -  including snipe signs. 

 To the street spammers considering empty utility poles and  median strips, realize that all your doing is contributing to the already high pile of Coroplast and cardboard in the Counties land fills (dump). Not to mention your own money, plus tax payers money..