CLEVELAND — As Election Day approaches, more and more campaign signs are popping up in communities. While showing support for a favorite candidate isn’t illegal, it is against the law to post flags or signs on wooden utility poles.
What You Need To Know
- Posting signs on wooden utility poles is illegal
- Nails and staples on power poles pose a danger to powerline workers
- Fines may be issued to cover cost of removing signs from utility poles
The poles are placed next to roadways, making them an ideal location to catch the eyes of passing vehicles.
“It’s a seemingly innocent mistake that a lot of our customers are making,” said Lauren Siburkis, a FirstEnergy spokesperson.
She said posters promoting garage sales, lost pets and more are actually a hazard.
“Not only does it pose a threat to our line workers, but it’s also dangerous to the public because it could put them in accidental risk of being around energized electrical equipment,” Siburkis said.
She said the staples and nails used to attach signs to utility poles may snag or pierce line workers’ personal protective equipment.
“Particularly their rubber gloves that are used to insulate them from high-voltage equipment,” she said.
Ohio residents like Kristin Vergara were surprised to find out the common form of advertising is actually a crime.
“I had no idea it was illegal,” she said. “I did not know that.”
She said a friend was reunited with her lost dog after someone recognized it from a sign displayed on an electric pole.
But no matter the reason or the season, signs on power poles may send a risky message.
“We’ll send a crew out to safely remove that sign if it interferes with the daily work that we need to perform,” said Siburkis.
In Cleveland, people who post signs on power poles may be fined $50 per sign to cover the removal cost.
