Can I Hang My Yard Sale Sign on a Utility Pole in Pennsylvania?
Walk down any street, and you will likely find some sort of sign or flier stapled to a utility (telephone) pole. Is this a legal practice? In Pennsylvania, the answer is no, under most conditions.
Other People Are Reading
-
The Law
-
According to the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (PA Cons. Stat. for short), section 6905, it is illegal to attach nails, tacks, or other hard substances to public utility poles. The exceptions allow for the utility, its licensee, or the municipality to affix certain signs (e.g., pole markers, traffic signs). The statute does not speak to using tape, poster putty, glue, or other "soft" adhesive to affix signage.
Penalties
-
Violation of this statute is considered a summary offense. A summary offense is a minor violation of the law which does not require a formal indictment or a jury trial. There are different degrees of summary offenses (1st degree is the most serious). Summary offenses can be punishable by a maximum fine of $300 and a maximum jail sentence of 90 days.
-
Enforcement
-
Enforcement of this law is uneven, at best. Most stories are anecdotal: if you post dozens of signs and never take them down, you are more likely to draw unwelcome attention than if you post a few signs and take them down in a timely manner. In the same vein, political or controversial signs may grab more negative attention than signs for yard sales or lost dogs. In short, post at your own risk.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Post It Here -- Telephone Pole image by Gary Chorpenning from Fotolia.com
