Campaign Yard Sign Laws in Alaska   by Ben Donahower

in Law / National, State, Local    (submitted 2010-12-09)

Violating the laws that center on campaign signs in Alaska has its consequences. The Department of Transportion will seize your campaign signs without warning. Taken in a bigger context, this means that political campaigns will not only lose their yard signs but also the time that it took to put out the signs, the money it took buy the signs, and the time it took to raise the money to order the signs.

In competitive raises, time and money are always in short supply, so it's important to learn Alaska's yard sign laws to avoid these consequences.

In addition, violating sign regulations has political implications. Particularly with yard sign theft but also with any violations of political lawn sign regulations, your opponent could contact the media, use it as part of a direct mail campaign, and otherwise.

In fact, one of the most effective television ads in 2010 included yard sign theft. Dale Peterson, a candidate for Alabama Agriculture Commissioner, moved from barely registering in the polls to over a quarter of the vote with a television spot that featured lawn signs.

Yard sign theft and other violations will resonate with voters because your opponent will make it an issue of trust. Can the voters trust a political campaign that violates the law to make the laws?

Alaska Political Sign Laws

Alaska lumps political signs in with all other outdoors advertising. As such, the Alaska Department of Transportation has this regulation:

1. Campaign signs placed within the State’s road and highway rights-of-way are deemed unauthorized encroachments under AS 19.25.200 – 19.25.250 and will be removed by DOT crews without notification. Vehicles parked in rights-of-way that are used to display political advertisements are also prohibited and subject to removal. Political campaign signs are considered outdoor advertising.

In other words, the Department does not allow signs along the right-of-way. This does not include all roads. There are many localities that allow campaign signs along their right-of-way. The state Department of Transportation has a complete listing of roadways that they maintain and campaigns should avoid:

* Central Region http://www.dot.alaska.gov/comm/assets/Ak-State-Rd_CE.pdf
* Northern Region http://www.dot.alaska.gov/comm/assets/Ak-State-Rd_NO.pdf
* Southeast Region http://www.dot.alaska.gov/comm/assets/Ak-State-Rd_SE.pdf

The state code further elaborates on their candidate sign ban along their right-of-way mandating that all "outdoor advertising may not be erected or maintaied within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way." While the Department will notify private property owners, they also need to comply with this regulation within 30 days of notification or risk having their signs removed.

Political campaigns in Alaska should limit their campaign sign placement to private property that is more than 660 feet from the right-of-way, at polling places on Election Day, and along the municipal right-of-ways where local ordinances allow.

Municipal Sign Laws

Many local governments do not have a sign ordinance, but those that do will put additional restrictions above and beyond the state code. Some of the most common restrictions on campaign yard signs are:

* The size and shape of signs
* When private property owners can display signs and similar guidelines on the local right-of-way
* Additional restrictions along the right-of-way

The municipal office should know this information or point you to the appropriate department to learn more.

Conclusion

Alaska's yard sign regulations are simple and clear:

* Signs along Alaska's right-of-way are illegal
* Signs must be placed more than 660 feet from the nearest right-of-way

Keeping mindful of yard sign laws has a number of advantages for Alaskan candidates including saving time, money, and avoiding political attacks.

On the other hand, knowing sign regulations is an opportunity for you to hold the other candidate accountable for his or her actions. When a candidate violates the law, it is a matter of trust. The voters have a right to know that your opponent has violated some of the simplest laws. Then, leave it to the voters to decide if they should vote for someone to make laws who won't follow them.

About the Author

With a decade of campaign experience, Ben is a blogger at Campaign Trail Yard Signs. What do lawn signs do well? When are they more trouble than they are worth? Just honest answers, so that you order useful political yard signs in the quantity your campaign needs.