Little Rock, Arkansas – The Arkansas Department of Transportation is reminding political candidates and their supporters that campaign signs cannot legally be placed within highway right of way areas across the state.
With political campaigns often placing signs along busy roads to reach passing drivers, the department says state-owned highway property is reserved for specific types of signs. Campaign materials are not among those permitted under Arkansas law.
Only official directional, informational and regulatory highway signs may be placed on state-owned highway property. Other signs found within those areas can be removed by ARDOT personnel.
The department says the restriction applies to campaign yard signs as well as larger billboard-style signs. Local ARDOT Area Maintenance Offices are responsible for removing signs that do not meet the requirements.
“It is important to keep highway right of ways clear for the safety of both drivers and road workers,” ARDOT Director Jared Wiley said.
The department says keeping these areas free of unauthorized signs is important because highway right of ways are used for transportation operations and maintenance. Signs placed too close to roadways can also create additional work for crews responsible for maintaining the state’s highways.
ARDOT personnel will remove political yard signs placed within highway right of way areas. The department will also contact owners of larger billboard signs and ask them to remove the signs.
Campaigns and individuals whose signs are removed will have an opportunity to retrieve them. According to ARDOT, owners can pick up their signs during normal business hours at the nearest ARDOT Area Maintenance Office.
The reminder applies to candidates for political office as well as people supporting political campaigns. The department is asking those involved in campaigns to make sure signs are placed only in locations where they are legally permitted.
The rules concern state-owned highway right of way property and are intended to keep those areas available for their transportation and safety purposes. ARDOT’s maintenance offices across Arkansas will continue to remove signs that are placed in restricted areas.
For candidates and campaign supporters, the department’s message comes with a simple request: check where signs are being installed before putting them along a highway. Signs placed on private property or in other locations where they are allowed are not the same as signs placed on state highway right of way.
By removing unauthorized campaign signs, ARDOT says it is working to keep highway areas clear for motorists and road crews while enforcing the state’s rules governing signs on highway property.
