Campaign/advertising signs not allowed in state rural rights-of-way

The Wyoming Department of Transportation today reminded citizens that advertising signs cannot be placed in the state rights-of-way.

"With the upcoming election season, we’ve seen an increase in the number of signs our maintenance crews are having to remove from the right-of-way fence or from the right-of-way itself,” said WYDOT area maintenance supervisor Clint Huckfeldt of Thermopolis. “Wyoming law and WYDOT policy prohibit placement of signs in those areas, so when our maintenance crews come through an area, they pick them up and take them to the area maintenance office. Whoever owns the sign has two weeks to claim the sign, and then we dispose of the sign if it is not claimed.”

Wyoming Statute 24-10-104 states that outdoor advertising must meet certain placement conditions. Placing signs or objects within highway rights-of-way is prohibited, including on right-of-way fencing, trees, or traffic signal poles within the right-of-way.

Fines and even jail time can be imposed on those who do not comply with the law.

Signs in the rights-of-way and on traffic poles distract drivers and increase the likelihood of crashes. Additionally, the accumulation of tape, paper and staples becomes a littering issue. WYDOT works diligently to keep streets, highways and byways clean.

"This applies to political candidates, real estate representatives and residents advertising garage sales. Posting these signs along roadways is illegal within the right-of-way of rural highways and interstates," Huckfeldt said.

This procedure also applies to people who erect private memorials within the state right of way, or decorate an existing roadside memorial sign.

Business people and citizens who believe their signs may have been removed by WYDOT crews may contact the nearest WYDOT maintenance office to make arrangements to pick up the signs.

“Our concern is always for the safety of the traveling public,” Huckfeldt said.