With about three weeks until the start of Masters Week, the city of Augusta has announced it is removing illegally placed signs on public property, utility poles, medians and rights of way.
“Our goal is to maintain the beauty and safety of our city while ensuring compliance with local laws,” said City Administrator Tameka Allen in a Tuesday news release. “Illegal signs create visual clutter, distract drivers, and can obstruct pedestrians. We are committed to enforcing regulations to keep our community clean and orderly.”
It’s illegal to place private signs in a right-of-way or on a utility pole. Illegally placing signs can get a violator subjected to 60 days in jail, a $1,000 fine and the probation, suspension or revocation of their business license, the release stated. Residents wishing to report the signs should call 311 or use the 311 app.
Augusta Code Enforcement, a division of the city’s Planning and Development department, is actively monitoring for violations and removing illegal signs, it said.
Tuesday morning, the Washington Road corridor and surrounding streets were mostly free from signs, although a sprinkling of ticket broker signs remained. Many of the removed signs were placed in a dumpster at Augusta Municipal Building.
The news release comes two weeks after Augusta Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice and others sought a discussion of the removal of signs, grocery carts and other debris from city rights-of-way and utility poles.
