Crews with Worcester County Public Works will begin removing snipe signs from public rights-of-way next week following approval of a pilot program to clean up county-owned land.
A sign is pictured on a county right-of-way.
Mallory Panuska Ames / Bayside Gazette
By Bethany Hooper, Associate Editor
Crews with Worcester County Public Works will begin removing snipe signs from the public right-of-way next week.
Beginning Aug. 1, any off-premises signs attached to trees, poles, stakes, fences or other objects will be removed as part of a new county effort to clean up the public right-of-way. Following a three-month period, Worcester County will begin issuing fines.
“Snipe signs are not permitted in any public right-of-way, which is either state or county-owned land,” a news release reads. “Under State law … the County is authorized to remove these signs. This includes commercial and political signs. All signs removed will be destroyed. Beginning November 1, a $25 per sign civil penalty will be issued for every snipe sign removed.”
Earlier this month, Public Works Director Dallas Baker gained approval from the Worcester County Commissioners to implement a pilot program to remove snipe signs from public land. He said the program would be an effort to assist the State Highway Administration in cleaning up the state rights-of-way.
“So, we’re asking for commissioner approval to start a pilot program to remove snipe signs,” he said at the time. “Those are the small roadside signs typically seen advertising services or sales of homes, that kind of thing, that have been illegally placed within state right-of-way. The state has the ability to delegate that authority to remove the signs to the counties. They’re understaffed.”
Baker told the commissioners the public works department had received complaints regarding snipe signs along major roadways in Worcester County. He proposed a three-month period to remove and dispose of snipe signs before issuing fines.
The commissioner ultimately voted to proceed with the pilot program, but to have the public works department implement a similar policy for county rights-of-way. According to the news release, snipe signs will be removed from the public right-of-way beginning Aug. 1, with fines to be implemented in November. Any questions can be directed to Worcester County Public Works at 410-632-5623.