regarding Illegal Signs: On July 19, 2000 the TxDOT, Director of District Right of Way Houston District Frances Willison, P.E. responds to the questions of illegal signs along the road ways of Texas. Also provides information of Area Office Personnel to Contact to Report Illegal Signs on Texas Department of Transportation's Right of Way -- you may want to print this information.... (the personnel have recently been contacted about the concerns of citizens). The letter:

Illegal Signs Dear Mr. Hurt, This letter is in response to your recent E-mail of July 11, 2000, concerning signage and policies of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This office would like to clarify our position on this matter. TxDOT divides this subject into two seperate issues depending upon the placement of the signs.

Regarding the Placement of Signs on Private Property All off premise signs which can be viewed from TxDOT controlled roadways must be controlled by permit. Strict requirements must be adhered to before a permit may be issued. If the off-premise sign does not have a permit, then TxDOT considers the sign to be illegal and will pursue the removal of the sign. The removal process begins with notifying the sign owner as to the sign's illegal status and the required action on their part. If the sign is not brought into compliance or removed, the District Right of Way Office will continue to pursue action to remove the sign. The removal process may result in the case being turned over to the office of the Attorney General (OAG) to pursue by court action Under the Texas Highway Beautification Act, a person who intentionally violates these rules is liable to the State for a civil penalty, which the OAG may sue to collect. The amount of the civil penalty will not be less than $500 nor more than $1000 for each violation, depending on the seriousness of the violation. A seperate civil penalty may be collected for each day on which a continuing violation occurs. If convicted, the sign owner may be subject to a criminal fine of $500 to $1000 for each offense. Each day of the willful violation of the law constitutes a seperate offense. The last report submitted to our Austin Office for the third quarter of the TxDOT Fisical Year 2000 noted the removal of 97 illegal signs from private property within the District. In the majority of cases, the sign owner voluntarily removes the sign upon notification of the rules concerning these signs. Many state they are unaware of the rules governing sign placement.

Regarding the Placement of Signs On The Right-o-Way Signs placed on TxDOT right of way, other than those specifically allowed by state law, are illegal. TxDOT strives to maintain a clear right of way. Due to the limitation of funds, more emphasis is placed on situations which are safety concerns for the traveling public. TxDOT attempts to maintain, within our resourses, the areas we can. The last "sweep" for illegal signs within our right of way was on July 8, 2000. That Saturday maintenance project, under the direction of TxDOT's Area Office, collected approximately 1,000 signs in Montgomery County. The area office has invoiced the sign owners for the removal of these signs. TxDOT neither condones nor allows illegal signs to be placed within our right-o-way. **************** If you are aware of any illegal signs on private property within our District and outside the city limits of the City of Houston, please contact Ms. Suzanne Bahm, of this office, at 713-802-5753. ***************** Mr. Robert Norris with the City of Houston's Sign Administration is the contact person to whom you can report illegal signs within the city limits @ 713-535-7900. ***************** The illegal signs placed upon TxDOT's right of way need to be reported to the Area Maintenance Office. Attached is a list of those offices along with the contacts for illegal signs.

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