7 Sep.—ST. PAUL
— With the general election less than 90 days away,
Minnesota Department of Transportation
reminds campaigners that state law prohibits placing political or advertising signs on the highway.
According to a press release from MnDOT, these areas include travel lanes; inner and outer shoulders; ditches; sight lines at intersections and boulevards in urban areas. This also includes displaying flags or other signs on bridges above traffic.
Minnesota law prohibits placing signs on private property without the landowner’s permission.
Violation of this law is considered a misdemeanor and civil penalties may also be imposed if the sign placement contributes to a motor vehicle accident, causes injury to a person, or damages a motor vehicle that runs off the road.
The Minnesota Outdoor Advertising Control Act
It is also forbidden to place advertising material on electricity poles, trees or bushes. It is also forbidden to paint or draw on rocks or other natural elements.
MnDOT workers are required to remove political or advertising signs from state roads. Removed signs are temporarily stored. MnDOT says residents can retrieve their signs by contacting their
local MnDOT office
for help.
County, city, and township officials administer laws on their own roads. Local municipalities may also have their own various regulations.
