The city stole our signs

[TulsaTV]

Our neighborhood (west of Memorial from 71st to 81st) held garage sales Saturday. Mindful of the World article about an army of volunteers removing illegal signs, we made sure to place the signs at least 15' from the right of way (12' is the actual requirement.)

Of course, the two high-quality signs we placed off Memorial were indiscriminately swept up by the volunteers (the one at 81st was left alone.) Was there a prize for most collected?

We retrieved the remaining sign after the sale as we had planned.

So, the holders of the garage sales were angry, the sale seekers missed out and we lost two lawfully-placed signs. Great work.

[tulsacyclist]

Well that sucks.

[sgrizzle]

That wasn't really the point of the sweep. Sounds like someone got a little carried away.

[NellieBly]

Well, I hate to tell you but the rights of way near Memorial and 71st and 81st are as wide as 60 feet in someplaces. There is no standard 12 foot rule in Tulsa but hopefully there will be soon.

Volunteers were allowed to remove paper and plastic signs and any other signs were removed by city inspectors.
It was a great event and I think it has made a lot of people more aware of the problem and it will make a difference in how Tulsa looks.

Hey, next time get a permit like the law allows. Illegal signs are illegal signs. It just hasn't been enforced for five years but that is no excuse.

[TulsaTV]

Well, I hate to tell you, the article didn't say 60', it said 12'.

"McLemore hopes the publicity generated will help educate businesses and individuals that it is illegal to stick signs in the city's rights of way, which extend 12 feet from the curb."

And thanks for the info. This was a metal sign, so if it was supposed to be removed by city inspectors, there might be some recourse.

[NellieBly]

OMG -- a Tulsa World reporter got something wrong?? Stop the Presses.

[NellieBly]

In some areas of town, there is two feet of right of way. It just depends on where you are.

[NellieBly]

The recourse -- a ticket. The sign inspector plans to fine anyone who wants their signs back.

[TulsaTV]

Sweet.

[NellieBly]

I know. It was great to see Tulsa looking a little cleaner on my way to work today. It is sweet.

[iplaw]

quote:Originally posted by NellieBly

Hey, next time get a permit like the law allows. Illegal signs are illegal signs. It just hasn't been enforced for five years but that is no excuse.

I love it.  Now we need permits for a frickin garage sale.  How ignorant...

Sounds like someone has Fife Syndrome.

[Conan71]

Nellie,

I got off 169 at 61st one night last week.  There was a small plastic sign at the light on 61st advertising 100 signs for $325 or some such amount.  I started chuckling thinking about that sign being gone within the week and all those hundreds of other signs they were advertising disappearing as well.  Thanks for the clean-up effort even if there are a few unhappy people.

[TulsaTV]

Either the troops got a little over-Fifed, or we were misinformed:

Tulsa World, 5/13:

"(Sharun) McLemore (the neighborhood inspector who organized the event) hopes the publicity generated will help educate businesses and individuals that it is illegal to stick signs in the city's rights of way, which extend 12 feet from the curb."

If Ms. McLemore meant 60 feet rather than 12 feet, or that any signs without permits would be taken, that's what she should have said. Then she would be getting fewer phone calls today.

[NellieBly]

The city has always required people get a sign permit. No one does it and it wasn't enforced. Kind of like illegal immigration; the government looked the other way forever. Now that's changed. If I have seen it once on Tulsa Now I've seen it a million times -- if it's illegal, it's illegal. period.

[jne]

OK, I'm considering a garage sale in a few weeks so why don't you set me straight Nelly?  How much is a sign permit? - can I set it down on the corner at Harvard if I buy one or just my front yard?  What if the business on the corner at Harvard decides they want to trash it? - Do I have any recourse? Where do I go to get the permit? - City Hall?  Will they laugh at me?  Is the permit for a single day?  Can the sign be a cardboard box? What are my size restrictions?