Need a chimney sweep, a paternity test or credit repair? It might get a little harder to find such businesses as Santa Clarita clamps down on illegal signs along its manicured roadways. Last week, the City Council hiked fines for placing the “bandit” signs in median strips, on utility poles, next to freeway ramps and elsewhere in public rights of way reports the Daily News.
The fine will jump from $50 to $250 for a first violation and from $100 to $1,000 for a second violation within one year.
“Bandit signs are worse than litter. It’s as bad as graffiti,” said Councilman TimBen Boydston, who said he has removed 250 signs over a two-month period.
Sticking the signs in rights of way was considered an infraction, which carried a $250 maximum fine. In a final vote in April, the council is expected to increase it to a misdemeanor, carrying the pricier fines and even potential jail time.
City employees currently spend two days a month removing the illegal signs. And now they will photograph the signs and notify businesses that their signs violate the city’s code.
“It’s a visual blight we want to get rid of,” said Curtis Williams, Santa Clarita’s supervising community preservation officer.
On the way to a council meeting at City Hall last week, Boydston said he removed four signs at the high-profile McBean Parkway and Valencia Boulevard intersection.
Read it here: Fines soar for signs by roads