Letter to the Editor: Enforcement of County Codes for Illegal Signs and Litter

Dear Fairfax County Board of Supervisors,

I'm glad that the board approved the agreement between VDOT and the county to enable the county to patrol VDOT's right of way to remove illegal signs. It's my understanding that there may be some reluctance on the board to issue fines even to repeat offenders. I think it's vital to educate businesses about the signage code so they will understand what is permitted and what is a violation. The board could post ads in newspapers and on the county website to announce the new sign removal initiative and urge people to cooperate by voluntarily removing their illegal signs.

Initially, the county should issue warnings to businesses and people who are posting illegal signs to advise them that their signs are in violation of code and to ask for their cooperation. However, violators must be made aware of the fines associated with signage violations. If businesses and individuals continue to post signs in violation of the code after they have been warned, I urge the county to issue and collect fines.

In my opinion, the county does not even have to remove the signs initially, but simply issue letters to offenders stating that the signs violate county codes and that the businesses/individuals must remove the signs themselves by a certain date or the county will remove them and offenders will be fined per occurrence with increasing fines for repeated violations. I truly think that if fines are levied, the problem will largely go away except for some new businesses who might not be aware of the code.

Currently, there are so many illegal signs and so much litter that businesses and individuals think this practice is totally acceptable so of course, they continue to litter and put up signs as usual. I cannot imagine why on earth they would stop posting signs if the county refuses to issue fines for repeated and egregious violators. If county authorities are reluctant to issue fines after a limited initial grace period, the problem will continue unabated and the county will be wasting valuable tax payer money to pay for removal of signs by county officials with no hope for improvement. In order for this clean up effort  to be truly effective, fines must be imposed upon repeat offenders.

I believe some youth groups and non-profit groups voiced concern about how to advertise their activities, but surely there are much better and more effective ways to target a specific audience than randomly placing signs along our roadsides. Bulletin boards could be established at public areas such as schools, libraries, parks and community centers throughout the county; advertisements could be run in local papers and in libraries and schools. There are much better at reaching a desired audience than random signs along the roadsides.

Regardless of whether signs are for financial gain or to promote positive activities, illegal signs are nevertheless unsightly and mar the roadsides. And they are an ineffective means of advertising. Illegal signs often produce negative responses from potential customers who might decide as I have to boycott any business that shows so little regard for our community as to put up signs, some times hundreds of them every few feet, along the roadsides and in the medians.

In addition to the initiative for removal of illegal signs, I hope the board will also immediately begin to address the problem of the widespread litter throughout the county. The board must develop a proactive program for cleaning up litter and other debris that has become so prevalent in many areas of our county and especially in Mason District over the past decade or more. Litter attracts more litter, encourages dumping of mattresses and other debris, and is not only disgusting but can become a health hazard. Litter is a tipping point that leads to more negative behavior and deterioration. Many residents and businesses have indicated their willingness, even their eagerness, to work with VDOT and the County to organize clean up events. VDOT and the County must reach out to support these efforts by residents and businesses or they cannot succeed.

Illegal signs and litter have proliferated in Mason District and other areas for decades with with little to no enforcement. I urge the Board to declare war now on this blight and to support the efforts of many tax paying residents and businesses in our county to report and remove illegal signs and to pick up litter in order to make our county a cleaner and more attractive place in which to live and conduct business.

Respectfully,

Kay Cooper
Resident of Fairfax County since 1975
Partner in VDOT's Adopt A Highway program at 7 Corners