§ 3-59. Signs along rights-of-way, etc.

(a)

Prohibition. Except as otherwise provided by law, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect or maintain upon any parish highway, right-of-way, servitude, street, roadway, emergency lane, median, neutral ground, shoulder of a road, curb and/or sidewalk any sign, marker, placard, poster, notice, light, signal light, warning or direction sign, or any sign bearing any commercial advertising.

(b)

Authority for removal.

(1)

Any sign, marker, signal light, advertisement, bill poster or dodger, including electioneering advertisement of any type, that is posted, placed or painted on any parish highway, right-of-way, servitude, street, public building, curbing of gutters, flagging, gutterstone, telephone, telegraph or any utility pole or post in violation of the foregoing sections shall be removed by the justices of peace and/or constables and/or 7th Ward Marshall's Office, after due notice to the benefactor of such placement.

(2)

The parish shall give such notice to all political candidates who qualify for an election that will take place with the unincorporated areas of Tangipahoa Parish by a certified letter notifying each candidate of the regulations in this section. Any such political sign or advertisement placed in violation of this section shall be removed by the Parish of Tangipahoa, as soon as possible after the parish government is made aware of the violation and then a second letter shall be sent to the candidate who is identified on the sign.

(3)

Due notice shall be sent by certified mail to the benefactor of all other types of signs, etc. placed in violation of this section, notifying him that he has 30 days from receipt of the notice to remove the placement. Upon the expiration of this period, the justices of peace and/or constables and/or 7th Ward Marshall's Office shall remove the sign, marker, signal light, advertisement, bill, poster or dodger.

(4)

The justices of peace and/or constables and/or 7th Ward Marshall's Office shall bill and collect from the benefactor all expenses incurred as a result of such removal plus a $25.00 per sign removal charge.

(5)

All signs removed by justices of peace and/or constables and/or 7th Ward Marshall's Office shall be held in storage for 15 days after which time the sign shall be destroyed. Persons wishing to reclaim such signs from the justices of peace and/or constables and/or 7th Ward Marshall's Office may do so within the 15-day period for a charge paid to the justices of peace and/or constables and/or 7th Ward Marshall's Office of $10.00 per sign.

(6)

For purposes of this section, benefactor shall mean the person, e.g., the candidate, that derives the primary benefit for having the sign, marker, signal light, advertisement, bill, poster or dodger posted, placed or painted for the public view.

(c)

Exception for signs placed by governmental authority. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting the department of public works from erecting and maintaining,signs designating street names, traffic signals, markers and control signs or highway markers, or any department, agency or political subdivision of the parish from posting signs designating public works, buildings, historic sites, school signs or other signs of a public and civic nature or any signs, placards, posters or notices normally posted or placed by said department, agency or political subdivision in the discharge and exercise of its duties and functions or as required by rule, resolution, ordinance or statute.

(d)

Other exceptions. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the placement of signs on median whose area on one side does not exceed ten square feet and are temporary in nature and are used for garage or rummage sales which stand no longer than 48 hours, provided such signs are freestanding and are not attached to trees, utility poles or other public and/or private property.

(e)

Council permission. The prohibitions of this section shall not apply when express approval is obtained from the council by resolution and a permit is obtained from the departments of the parish government designated by the council to grant such permits, provided for in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 17-87, § 4(8), 3-23-87; Ord. No. 96-44, 1-27-97; Ord. No. 00-04, 3-13-00)