Sign Nazi On Patrol

[danchangtulsa]

Tulsa Indy Gazetter has put the Mayor's Action Center on notice of the following signs which could be deemed in violation of TRO 51 3102.16:

UPDATE: 27 JAN 2006--Official City of Tulsa Sign Nazi On Patrol Caught On Camera

Illegal Signs in the public right-of-way  UPDATE:  17 JAN 2006.  Direct Action Civil Disobedience!    Up yours, City.  Yeaaaaaaaaah, baby!

UPDATE: Thumbing their noses at Tulsa Ordinance, Tulsa Transit offers advertising on benches and shelters located on the public right-of-way. For details, contact Mike Lemery with Transit Advertising at 699-0204.

UPDATE: 11 JAN 2006--Tulsa Transit, info@tulsatransit.org, wrote:
We have permits from the City of Tulsa for all our benches and shelters. Thanks for your concern.

TIG Reply:
TRO 51 3102.16 does not have language that allows permitted signs on public right-of-way. Please send the link for the enabling local ordinance, and we will clarify the situation on Tulsa Indy Sign Nazi on Patrol. Thank you for your help.

UPDATE:  12 JAN 2006--Any day now, the candidates will receive that dreaded letter warning not to post signs on the public right-of-way from the City of Tulsa.  We will post the letter on Tulsa Indy.

UPDATE:  13 Jan 2006--Letter from the City of Tulsa, Development Services Division, Public Works Department, 111 South Greenwood, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120 to all candidates:

Dear Candidate:
Election Board records show that you have filed for office.  Please be aware that City of Tulsa ordinances prohibit political signs on public rights-of-way.  Signs in the public right-of-way impair the City's ability to maintain the rights-of-way and increase the costs to our citizens.

Title 42 of the Zoning Code, Sections 1201.C and 1221.C.4.h, permit election campaign signs on private property if erected not more than 45 days prior to an election and removed within seven days following the election.  Title 51 of the Building Codes, Section 3102.16, says that no sign shall be permitted in the right-of-way of a street under any circumstances, except as provided in Section 3102.12.4.  In addition, Title 27, Chapter 13 allows for the issuance of a citation for placing signs in the rights-of-way.

City inspectors have been instructed to remove all signs located on the public right-of-way.  Where the right-of-way line is not clearly determined, the inspectors will pick up all signs inside the power line or fence line extension.  If there are no power line or fence line, the inspector will pick up all signs within 12 feet behind the curb line.

If you have any questions, please contact Mark Hogan at 591-4069.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
(Signed)
Jack L. Page, P.E.
Development Services Director
jpage@ci.tulsa.ok.us

JLP/bg

cc: Charles Hardt