§ 184-151.1. Prohibition of signs posted on utility poles.

A. 

Findings. The Mayor and Council hereby find the following:

(1) 

The posting, erection or maintenance of signs on public utility poles is expressly prohibited by P.L. 1991, c. 413 (N.J.S.A. 27:5-9).

(2) 

Said statute does not assess any penalty for violations of the same.

(3) 

Such prohibition is not widely known or followed.

(4) 

The posting of signs on public utility poles jeopardizes the safety of utility workers, damages the aesthetics of the Borough, promotes unlicensed and unregulated businesses, and creates safety hazards by creating distractions to motorists travelling the public streets.

(5) 

The practice of posting printed, silk-screened or otherwise mass-produced signs advertising, for example, business opportunities, articles or services for sale, or offers of employment, has become increasingly prevalent. These signs are posted using nails, bolts, screws or other devices intended to prevent removal.

(6) 

Such signs that are posted using nails, bolts, staples, screws, or other semipermanent means of attachment, are particularly hazardous to utility workers and are deleterious to the aesthetics of the community and foster enduring visual pollution. For the purposes of this section, a "means of attachment" is "semipermanent" if the nail, bolt, staple, screw or other device cannot be easily removed with one hand without the use of a tool.

(7) 

The practice of attaching bumper stickers, decals and stickers to utility poles, traffic control devices and similar structures is becoming increasingly prevalent, and such practice constitutes litter, pollution, vandalism and trespass. When attached to traffic control devices such practice also constitutes destruction of public property.

B. 

Posting of certain signs expressly prohibited.

(1) 

The posting of any sign as described in Subsection A(5) above to any utility pole in the Borough using nails, bolts, staples, screws, or other semipermanent means of attachment is expressly prohibited.

(2) 

The placing of a bumper sticker, decal or other sticker to any utility pole or traffic control device in the Borough is expressly prohibited.

C. 

Violations. Any violation of this section shall result in a fine of not more than $1,250 and/or the imposition of 50 hours of community service. Every sign posted in violation of this section shall be deemed a separate offense. Every day that a sign is posted in violation of this section shall be deemed a separate offense.

[Amended 5-10-2005 by Ord. No. 05-10R; 6-13-2006 by Ord. No. 06-11R]

Added 8-12-2003 by Ord. No. 03-16R