By Cheryl Splain, KnoxPages.com Reporter
MOUNT VERNON — With the general election less than three months away, a few political signs are beginning to pop up around the area. Mayor Richard Mavis said the city will not enforce its ordinance relating to the time frame residents can post such signs because it is unconstitutional.
The ordinance states that political signs and posters cannot be displayed more than 45 days before an election and must be removed three days after the election. Mavis explained that the Supreme Court ruled that such limitations violate the First Amendment and the right to free speech.
“We hope people will be sensitive to common sense and not put them out too early,” he said. “If [the signs] violate the size limit, we will enforce that.”
The ordinance restricts political signs to 6 square feet in area, which fits the typical 2-feet-by-3-feet political signs. Signs cannot be illuminated, placed in the public right-of-way, attached to a tree or utility pole and cannot create a safety or visibility hazard.
“We’ll review the sign ordinance and the political section of that ordinance, and we’ll work on the language in our ordinance for next year,” said Mavis.