The Oct. 13 Sunday Telegram op-ed “Signs walk the fine line between legal and litter,” by Geoffrey Bove, comes a year after Catharine Barnum’s October 2023 letter “Election road signs contribute nothing to Maine,” and my response detailing Maine Statute Section 1913-A Categorical Signs – especially the part about temporary signs.

The DOT defines categorical signs as noncommercial. DOT engineer Stephen Landry’s letter of July 23, 2021, posted on South Portland’s website, is also informative. The DOT rules are sufficient as written, but lack the enforcement that DOT and various towns have pledged.

Various town sites such as South Portland’s Campaign Signs state that they will remove signs, and when, but many can’t keep up with the growing flood. Falmouth has its “Posting Temporary Signs in Falmouth,” but Falmouth teems with illegal signs. Such signs, especially the commercial advertisements for goods, services and jobs, interfere with legitimate campaign signs and others, and mock any local sign ordinances.

I heartily agree that illegal signs within road rights-of-way (e.g., commercial ads, signs lacking clear name-mailing address-date, signs beyond the six-week time limit per half year, and signs on utility or traffic-sign poles or trees) are litter that anyone should be allowed to remove, but mind your personal safety, and use kindness and common sense on what to remove. Finally, law enforcement MUST all learn the DOT rules. A citizen removing an illegal sign should not fear the law.

David Brown
Raymond