MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Montgomery County is giving a whole new meaning to “picking up signs” after the Department of Permitting Services (DPS) conducted its latest “Sign Sweep” on Tuesday. The sweep led to the collection of a whopping 1,050 signs found in public rights-of-way around the county, clearing everything from campaign posters to promotional signs cluttering up county-maintained roads.
For Montgomery County’s team of DPS inspectors and field supervisors, it was a day of action. Divided into teams, they combed through their assigned areas. And they sure had their work cut out for them, as this post-election period yielded an especially high volume of signs left in areas where they shouldn’t have been. Signs were collected from county roads only, so if you spotted a leftover campaign sign in someone’s yard, that one can legally stay.
These captured signs were then taken to the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station in Derwood, where they’re on track for recycling.
Curious residents can always lend a hand in keeping the county clear of rogue signage. DPS makes it easy for anyone to report illegally placed signs year-round. All it takes is a quick visit to the DPS website, a click on the “property complaint” button, and the input of a little information about the issue. You can even remain anonymous if you choose to. And if the offending sign is on a state roadway, a quick detour to the Maryland State Highway Administration’s website will do the trick.
Greg Nichols, DPS Zoning and Code Compliance Section Manager encourages residents to keep their eyes peeled and to report any suspicious signage lurking in the right-of-way.
So, while campaign season might have left its mark, DPS is ready to sweep the county clean — sign by sign.
