Little Rock, Arkansas – As political campaigns continue across Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Transportation is reminding candidates and their supporters that campaign signs cannot be placed on state highway right of ways.
The department says state law allows only official highway signs, including directional, informational and regulatory signs, to be placed on state-owned highway property. Political campaign signs do not fall into those categories and can be removed by ARDOT workers.
The reminder applies to campaign signs placed along highways and other areas that are part of the state highway right of way. Candidates, campaign volunteers and supporters are being asked to make sure signs are not installed in those locations.
“It is important to keep highway right of ways clear for the safety of both drivers and road workers,” ARDOT Director Jared Wiley said.
Keeping those areas clear is especially important for workers who maintain Arkansas roads, according to the department. Signs and other unauthorized objects can also create additional obstacles along roads where drivers and maintenance crews need clear space.
ARDOT’s local Area Maintenance Offices are responsible for removing signs that do not meet the state’s requirements. That includes political yard signs placed within highway right of ways.
The department also has procedures for larger campaign advertisements. ARDOT personnel will contact the owners of large billboard signs when those signs are placed where they are not permitted and ask them to remove them.
For smaller yard signs, ARDOT workers will remove the signs themselves. The department said owners can retrieve removed signs during normal business hours from the nearest ARDOT Area Maintenance Office.
The warning comes as candidates and political groups continue putting up campaign materials in communities around Arkansas. While campaign signs can be used on private property where permitted, the state highway right of way is subject to different rules.
ARDOT’s reminder is focused on where signs can be placed rather than on the political message displayed on them. The same restriction applies regardless of the candidate, political party or campaign involved.
Anyone placing campaign signs near a state highway should therefore make sure the property is outside the highway right of way before installing them. Signs placed within the state-owned area may be taken down by ARDOT crews.
The department says the rules are intended in part to keep highway areas clear for people traveling on Arkansas roads and for workers who maintain the state’s transportation system.
Campaign sign owners whose signs are removed can contact or visit their nearest ARDOT Area Maintenance Office during normal business hours to retrieve them.
