The Crow Wing County Highway Department is reminding residents to take care when posting signs along county roads for garage sales, graduations, weddings, real estate sales and other events.
Although signs placed by the public along county roads may provide information to events, many are in violation of Minnesota Statute 160.27, a news release stated. This statute prohibits putting signs in the highway road right-of-way and allows for removal by road authorities.
Unauthorized signs can impact sight distances and create safety concerns, the release stated. Highway department employees will remove improperly placed signs. Signs collected from county roads are taken to the Brainerd or Crosslake highway department shops (depending where they are picked up), where they are available for retrieval.
The only signs allowed in the public road right-of-way are motorist information and traffic control signs approved by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the highway department.
Attaching personal informational signs to traffic signs, utility poles, trees, or painting/drawing on rocks or natural features is a violation of the statute and is punishable with a fine.
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Planting of flowers, bushes, trees and the placing of rocks and other obstructions in the road right-of-way is also a violation of the statute and is punishable with a fine. These items are also subject to removal by highway crews.
The road right-of-way varies on each road. Contact the highway department to verify the public right-of-way of county roads and retrieve permission from the landowner before placing signs on private property.
Those with questions regarding the placement of signs may contact the highway department at www.crowwing.us or 218-824-1110.
