Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-10
ROAD S|CNBOARDS
. PLACED UNDER BAN
Forty-0ne States Adopt Reg
uIationS to Govern Form and
Quantity of Advertising

As an indication that States are pay
Ing more and more attention to the
matter of signboards along the national
and interstate highways of the Nation,
it is announced In the report of survey
recently made by the United States De-
partment of Agriculture that only of
the 40 States are now without some sort
of regulation as to the size, placing or
appearance of advertising signboardS,
and in practically all cases has the mat
ter-sof signboard obstruction of i'm
portant curves or railway or trolley
crossings been rigidly dealt with. Meas
ures tightening up the existing sign
board rules are pending in many State
Legislatures.
The seven States without regulation
of the highway signboards are South
Carolina, Arkansas. Texas. New Mex
leo. Oklahoma, Kansas and wyoming.
Both of the States nearby to the Dis
trictS have regulations concerning the
placing of signboards along the public
highways, with Maryland's rules Slight
ly more rigid than Virginia's.
Classification Noted.
In the survey, Maryland is classed
with Is other States-California, New
York, Idaho. Michigan, Washington,
Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Louisiana. Missouri, Rhode Island,
Utah, New Jersey and Wisconsin,
which prohibit the erection or main
tenance of advertising signs on private
property without the consent of the
owner of the property. and on the right
of way of the highway without the con-
sent of the State, city or county au-
thoritieS.
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slightly signboard along the highways,
the Maryland regulations 60 about as
far as those of most States in curbing
the evil, and bringing it within the
jurisdiction of the individual COM
munities. The individual communities,
on their own account, may further reg
ulate the Signboards, and in some cases
do SO, without being inconsistent with
the State law.
Virginia's regulation merely states
that no person shall erect or maintain
upon any highway or right of way any
advertising sign without the consent of
the State authorities. Many communi-
ties within the State, however, have in
dividual laws further strengthening the
State law, and governing the form and
appearance of the signs displayed.
Connecticut, Massachusetts and YER
mont are generally conceded to have
the best defined and most rigid regu-
lations on the highway signboard ques-
ton. These States have set up rules
requiring all agencies in the business of
vertising signs to be licensed by State
authorities at certain annual fees, and
II the agency does not reside in the
State bond must be furnished. Each
license must bear number and date of
expiration. and rigid enforcement Of
the rules is effected.
In Massachusetts the license fee is
dependent upon administrative costs
and varies throughout the State.
Connecticut charges fee of 500 a
year and an annual permit fee of So
vertising space to SO for between 600
and 900 feet. Fees are charged for
each side of the advertising panel and
signs of more than 900 square feet are
not permitted.
Vermont has fixed an annual charge
Of 3 cents for each square foot of adj
tertiSing space.
Further Restrictions Cited.
Connecticut's law further provides
- the applicant for permit to erect
HnA maintain an advertising sign must
heye the written consent of the owner
y be erected. The permit must further
state the size of the display, the name
Of the agency displaying, owning or
leasing the signboard, and directional
c. danlger signs may not carry adver-
Using matter. In this State any one
who shall deposit, throw affix or MAIN
tain any advertisement within the limits
of any public highway, or on property
without the consent of the owner there
of is subject to a fine of not more than
$50 or Imprisonment Of not more than
six months, or both. The signs may
not be placed within Is feet of a high
way. Massachusetts, sets this limit at
500 feet. In these two States the cities
and towns may further regulate the
signboards In a manner not inconsistent
with the State laws.
The State authorities of Connecticut,
Massachusetts, and Vermont have the
right to levy and collect fines for signs
which do not conform with the regu-
atoms and the signs may be seized.
The cost of removal of the signs, after
due notice has been served, is collected
from the agencies or from the sureties
on bonds. In Connecticut the fine for
a non-conforming sign Is 500; In
Massachusetts,. fine of not more than
500, with further penalty of $500
fine for continued violation. Vermont'S
fine is set at 500, or imprisonment
Of 80 days, or both.
Power to Remove Signs.
The local authorities in these three
States may remove conforming
signs within their jurisdictions. Adver-
Using by manufacturers and other
landowners located along the highways
Is permitted under certain regulations.
Fees for advertising signs are imposed
by seven other States. They are
Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida,
Nebraska, North Carolina and Nevada.
Georgia levies an annual tax of 81
on each location by each agency, de-
fined as rs lineal feet. On the Dixie
Highway in Bibb County no signs are
allowed Chatham County has the
power to regulate the signs within its
boundaries.
Mississippi's fee is rs cents for each
sign of from 10 to 100 square feet,
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