Removing political signs. Immoral? Illegal?

[mithrandir2001]

If you see a political sign along the side of the road (on public property), is it immoral and/or illegal to remove it? By "political sign" I mean: John Doe for Senate or Jane Normal for Governor, etc.

Don't assume I did this. I just want to hear the opinions.

 

[Jzero]

<< If you see a political sign along the side of the road (on public property), is it immoral and/or illegal to remove it? By "political sign" I mean: John Doe for Senate or Jane Normal for Governor, etc.

Don't assume I did this. I just want to hear the opinions. >>


I hate those signs. As if I'd really vote for you just because I saw a sign that told me to do so and for no other reason.
If they're on public land, I'd try to contact whoever's in charge of enforcing campaign rules and see if it's even in violation before I start ripping them down

 

[Linflas]

In my area they are illegal so I see nothing immoral with removing them from public spaces. Private property is a whole different issue though.

 

[Fausto]

Immoral: Yes. Everyone deserves a fair shake at promoting themselves during a campaign. If you dislike a candidate, devote your time to supporting his opponent.

Illegal: Dunno. Signs on private property are a different matter. Our charming ex-sheriff (Sidney Dorsey...now on trial for murder of his successor) was going around ripping up signs from people's yards during a recent election (his worthless wife was up for reelection....she lost anyway thank god).

Fausto

 

[PlatinumGold]

the more pertinant question is, is it legal for them to post it in the first place. If i choose to place a political sign on my own property its one thing, but those postings on the side of the road, there is a real question of legality. also, why don't they ever clean them up after the elections? so on that basis, i'd say your doing a public service removing them.

 

[308nato]

I don't know about moral or legal issues but it is a sh!tty thing to do. What is done around here is to put a bigger sign for your preferred candidate as close as possible to the smaller sign for the opponent. Turns into sort of an "arms race". When you get to your biggest sign then the other guy whips out something larger, THEN you can steal their sign. Its more a atter of etiquette than anything else.

 

[Fausto]

Hehe...during our recent mayoral election here in Atlanta, Robb Pitts' people were going around and sandwiching opponents' signs with his. Technically not ripping them up, but still a super-lame thing to do. He lost.

Fausto

 

[Linflas]

The whole problem with all these little campaign signs put up in medians etc during campaigns is that after the campaign all the wild eyed supporters of candidate X never seem as zealous about removing the signs as they were when sticking them up. This is also true of developers and real estate folks in my area. The bottom line is that if there are laws prohibiting these signs then people running for office should not be breaking laws they expect to take an oath to uphold.

 

[gopunk]

it is not immoral, as long as your reasons for removing it are not political in any way shape or form.

 

[ElFenix]

i've removed tons of improperly placed signs, political and non, at UT. theres some pretty strict rules for sign posting, and no one seems to know them. you can't cover other signs, you have to use push pins, only designated sign kiosks, etc.