Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
With the general election practically around the corner, passions aroused, and political signs proliferating everywhere, instances of stolen and defaced signs are also being reported.
According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, it has received complaints of several Trump signs either stolen or removed, and a Biden sign defaced with black spray paint.
In some cases, a single sign has been reported missing and the rest left intact, which leads Sheriff Mac McNeill to wonder if maybe some of the culprits aren’t supporters taking possession of particular signs for their own personal display.
No matter the reason for the taking, the Sheriff notes that the law is clear on the theft, and so will be law enforcement’s response.
“The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office will investigate any theft of political signs and violators will be charged according to the law,” McNeill said.
He cites Florida Statute and particularly Section 812.014, which addresses theft, defined as knowingly obtaining or using, or endeavoring to obtain or use, the property of another, either temporarily or permanently.
The definition also includes depriving another of the right to, or benefit from, a property, as well as the appropriation of property to which the person is not entitled.
McNeill said the part of the statute that applies specifically to political signs is subsection 3(a), which makes any property theft not specified in subsection (2) “a petit theft of the second degree and a misdemeanor in the second degree.”
Per the statute, petit theft is theft of property that is valued at less than $100. A second-degree misdemeanor, petit theft is punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.
Another possibility for some of the missing signs, McNeill offered, was that a state agency or one of its contractors had removed particular signs if they were installed on public right-of-way.
Per state law, no signs may be put on the right-of-way of any highway that is part of the State Highway System, such as U.S. 90 or U.S. 19. In such instances, the Florida Department of Transportation, or one of its contractors, will remove the illegal signs and store them at one their operations centers.
In Jefferson County, Ferrovial Services Infrastructure Inc., which has office on North Jefferson Street, would perform the sign removal service. A representative of Ferrovial confirmed that if it receives a complaint of a sign placed illegally on a public right-of-way, it will most definitely remove the sign and store it in its facility for the owner to pick up.
Along with giving the individual a warning when he or she comes to claim the sign not to post signs on public rights-of-way anymore, the representative said.
To date, however, the representative said that the company had received no complaints nor removed any signs in Jefferson County. Which points to partisanship in the case of the defaced sign, or possible over-enthusiasm on the part of some in the cases involving the single missing signs.
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