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County Commissioner Vicky Chaplin urges coordinated crackdown on roadside signs
Summary
County Commissioner Vicky Chaplin asked the Mulberry City Commission to back a countywide approach that treats improperly placed roadside political and business signs as litter, citing a personal tally of more than 300 signs and a Bartow/Jacksonville model that fines $250 for a first offense.
County Commissioner Vicky Chaplin told the Mulberry City Commission she wants municipalities and the county to adopt a coordinated ordinance to curb improperly placed roadside signs that she said create visual clutter and a traffic hazard.
"I picked up over 300 signs, all within the right-of-way or in intersections," Chaplin said, describing patrols she conducted around South Lakeland. She urged the city to consider the approach taken in Bartow and Jacksonville, which treat signs as "litter on a stick" and assess fines as an enforcement tool.
Chaplin said local code enforcement in Bartow issues an initial $250 fine for the first sign and $350 for each additional sign; photographs are kept as records and unpaid fines can proceed to magistrate hearings and liens on property. She said that the ordinance led to a measurable decrease in illegal signs in the cities that adopted it.
Chaplin asked Mulberry officials to coordinate ordinances and enforcement so business owners and campaigns face similar rules across municipal and county boundaries. She also said the county is seeking feedback from the Department of Transportation because many signs are placed along DOT right-of-way, and urged the commission to discuss the proposal with city managers and the county manager.
Commissioners acknowledged the concern; several said consistent rules across jurisdictions would help both enforcement officers and local businesses understand expectations. Chaplin left a binder of model language and supporting materials for city staff and said county staff and Bartow officials stand ready to brief Mulberry staff on the details.
Next steps: Chaplin said the county manager will raise the issue with city managers and the county will await DOT guidance about enforcement along state right-of-way before moving forward with a formal county ordinance.
