Weprin Wants Higher Fines for Illegal Signs

With election season in full swing, Councilman Mark Weprin D-Oakland Gardens, is tackling one of the more cosmetic blights of dirty campaining: illegal signs.

Wepin wants to triple the current fines for posting signs illegally on public property. His office says they can be distracting to drivers and strain city resources to remove.

Northeast Queens activists were so irritated by one large sign that remained up weeks after last election cycle that two of them wrestled a large sign down from a public post themselves.

“When signs eventually fall off, they can create a hazard as the nails used to affix them are exposed. The signs litter our streets, gardens and parks," said Frederick Kress, coordinator at Citizens Against Graffiti Everywhere, adding, "It’s just another form of graffiti that is bringing down the quality of life in our communities."

It is currently illegal to post stickers, advertisements or fliers on telephone poles, lamposts or other public property.

“The number of illegal signs is multiplying, and we must increase both fines and enforcement to discourage this pattern from continuing,” said Weprin.