Boca Raton Police Temporary Political Signs SOP PDF

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 41.06 TEMPORARY POLITICAL SIGNS Revised: new I. PURPOSE: This standard operating procedure provides guidance and information regarding amendments to the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 24 entitled Signs. II. POLICY: The Boca Raton...

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 41.06 TEMPORARY POLITICAL SIGNS Revised: new I. PURPOSE: This standard operating procedure provides guidance and information regarding amendments to the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 24 entitled Signs. II. POLICY: The Boca Raton Police Services Department will enforce the reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on the placement of temporary political signs as provided for in Chapter 24 of the Code of Ordinances. III. DEFINITIONS: Temporary Political Sign: A sign constructed of paper, cardboard or other synthetic or metal material that identifies a political candidate or issue. Temporary political signs are normally erected in the weeks or months prior to an election and must not exceed 16 square feet on the sign face in an area with a maximum aggregate sign area of 32 square feet. These signs are usually posted on small metal frames that are pushed into the ground, which then provides a base for the sign and mounting structure. IV. BACKGROUND: A. Chapter 24, Section 24-5 of the Code of Ordinances was amended and provides that: 1. The City manager may summarily remove without notice temporary political signs in the public rights of way or on City property when unlawfully erected and maintained, and to immediately dispose of the signs. 2. The City manager shall notify, either in person or by first-class mail, anyone identified by the sign that it has been removed and may be retrieved within 30 days after which time the sign will be disposed of. B. Chapter 24, Section 24-6 of the Code of Ordinances has been amended and provides that any sign or sign structure (including temporary political signs) erected or posted in the public rights of way is unlawful and subject to summary removal. C. Chapter 24, Section 24-128 was amended and provides an exception for temporary political signs as follows: Effective: April 1, 2015 Revised: (new) Temporary Political Signs SOP No. 41.06 Page 1 of 2 1. Temporary political signs shall be permitted in the public rights of way between 100 feet and 200 feet of the entrance to any polling place on election days or to any early voting site during early voting periods. 2. If a person erects more than 10 temporary political signs on the public rights of way, they will furnish a cash bond in the amount of $500.00 to the city manager. 3. Signs must be removed within three (3) days after the election to which the sign pertains. V. PROCEDURE: A. Employees who observe a violation of the temporary political sign ordinance shall do the following: 1. Complete an incident report in accordance with existing Department policy and include a description of the sign(s), the location of the sign(s), and when the violation was observed. 2. Advise Communications personnel of the same information required for the incident report. B. Employees shall not remove the sign(s). Removal of signs found in violation of the ordinance will be done by the Code Compliance Division. C. Records personnel shall ensure that copies of incident reports outlining temporary political sign violations will be delivered to the Code Enforcement supervisor each weekday. D. Code Enforcement will maintain a sign log for verifications. Approved: Daniel C. Alexander Chief of Police Effective: April 1, 2015 Revised: (new) Date: Temporary Political Signs SOP No. 41.06 Page 2 of 2