TAZEWELL, Va. – With election season in full swing, authorities are reminding residents about the rules governing political signs.
According to the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, property owners can remove any political signs on their land that they did not place themselves.
On public property, the Department of Transportation has the right to remove signs if there’s no permission or permit for their placement.
Vandalizing political signs and committing petty larceny are both class one misdemeanors, which can result in up to a year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine.
We spoke with Captain Jonathan Hankins, the captain of Operations at the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, and he emphasizes the importance of being considerate to others.
He states, “Don’t vandalize other people’s signs. Regardless of which party you’re affiliated with, don’t steal or vandalize the other signs. There’s no sense in vandalizing other people’s signs and stealing signs. We get a lot of calls every year for signs that are stolen and vandalized. Just be respectful.”
The county does not impose height or width restrictions on political signs, but regulations may vary from town to town.
If you witness someone stealing or vandalizing a sign, authorities ask you to call 911 and provide a description of the vehicle and person involved.
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