WEIRTON — Beginning this week, city crews will remove signage deemed to have been posted illegally on utility poles and in public rights of way.

Such signage includes those attached to utility poles, trees and equipment, as well as yard signs advertising a business, commodity, service, or entertainment not directly related to the property on which it has been placed.

City officials released a notice in recent weeks, to provide residents and business owners with an opportunity to remove any such signage.

Such provisions are included under West Virginia Code 17-19-1, which states “No person shall paint, mark, post, tack, nail or otherwise affix any sign, advertisement, notice, picture, drawing, emblem, poster, printing or writing, other than those placed and maintained in pursuance of law, on or to any stone, rock, tree, fence, stump, post, pole, building or other structure which is in or upon the right-of-way of any public road or highway, including the road or highway itself, except that the commissioner may provide for suitable road signs, danger signals and other signs of informational nature. No such sign or other marking shall be suspended over the right-of-way of any public road or highway. These prohibitions include, but are not limited to, such devices which are intended to invite or draw attention of the public to the candidacy of any person for any public office; and any such device which exists in violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute prima facie evidence that the person whose candidacy appears thereon violated this section: Provided, however, that the installation or maintenance of newspaper, postal or mailboxes shall not be prohibited or affected by this section.”

Under state code, the misdemeanor charge includes a fine of between $25 and $100 per offense.

Weirton code enforcement officers will monitor assigned council wards to identify potential violations and remove any signs deemed to be illegal.

For information, contact the Weirton Inspections Office at (304) 797-8500, extension 1005.