Over 2,000 illegal signs removed from county roads
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Illegal signs are a common sight along the county's roadways.

From July to Dec. 18, 39 citizen volunteers have removed 2,189 illegal signs in the rightof way on Chesterfield roads. They have worked 122 hours during the 144 days. The signs run the gamut from those advertising yard sales to others promoting businesses - often in the real estate industry.

Any sign within five feet of the pavement or curb is illegal though the public right-ofway usually extends to the utility lines and beyond.

"Some businesses continue to put up signs on a routine basis," Code Compliance Supervisor Ted Barclay said, "so we're taking them on to an enforcement basis." One new residential development on Harrowgate Road has been putting up directional signs on most weekends, but Barclay declined to name the company.

"We're documenting the violations for prosecution before it goes to the County Attorney's Office," he added. State law sets the fine maximum at $100 per sign, but Chesterfield only gets the cost of enforcement as reimbursement. Any additional money goes back to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

Last year, VDOT gave the county approval to pick up illegal signs. Since then, the county's zoning department has begun to train volunteers on how to identify and remove the signs. All signs that are collected are taken to the transfer stations where they are stored for awhile before they are disposed.

Volunteers do not contact the sign violators, but they do make recommendations on which violators should be sent a letter because of repeated violations.

A two-hour training session teaches the volunteers about the state code, personal safety and recordkeeping. For more information on volunteering, call 748-1802.