The Arkansas Department of Transportation reminded political candidates and their supporters that it is illegal to put campaign signs along highways in the state.
There are no big statewide elections this year, with the next one being statewide primary elections on March 3. But political campaign signs know no season and can crop up any time. According to Jared Wiley, keeping highways clear of campaign signs is a safety issue.
“It is important to keep highway right of ways clear for the safety of both drivers and road workers,” Wiley said.
State law only permits official directional, informational and regulatory highway signs on state-owned highway property, according to a news release from the transportation department. The roadways governed by this law include interstates, U.S. highways and state highways. All other signs are removed by the local Arkansas Department of Transportation Area Maintenance Office. Transportation department workers will remove any yard signs placed on the right of way and will contact owners of large billboard signs to remove them. Owners can pick up the signs during normal business hours at the nearest Transportation Department maintenance office.
