UPDATE: Who to Call to Remove Campaign Signs?

Updated 12:20 p.m. Thursday

Fairfax County has a new message to residents about who to call for the removal of political signs: It's the candidates.

"Political candidates are responsible for picking up their signs off roadways, but if you see political campaign signs on roadways that are causing a safety hazard call the Virginia Department of Transportation's customer service center at 1-800-367-7623 (1-800-FOR-ROAD) to have them removed," said a note sent out by the county today.

"Under state law (§33.1-373), these signs may not be placed on roads, medians or right of ways, which include sidewalks or ditches, and the area between utility lines or fences on the outside edges of state roads.

"On private property, campaign signs should be taken down within 15 days after the election.

Last week the county told the neighbors to call the Virginia Department of Transportation for the removal of the election debris. VDOT was not happy.

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Original Post Nov. 14 at 4 p.m.

The remnants of elections on Nov. 8 still remain along sidewalks and roadways on at major intersections and roads in Annandale and throughout Fairfax County --- the ubiquitous and numerous campaign signs.

Who you gonna call: the Virginia Department of Transportation. VDOT urges residents to call campaigns for sign removal. You just need to call the customer service center at 1-800-367-7623 (1-800-FOR-ROAD) and tell them the location and away they should go, according to a notice from Fairfax County government.

"We're not a litter company," said Joan Morris of VDOT's Public Affairs Office, who wanted to make clear that VDOT should not be the first place people call to get political signs removed. "We remove the ones that are a hazard."

Usually campaigns are pretty good about cleaning up after election day, she said.

Under state law (§33.1-373), these signs may not be placed on roads, medians or right of ways, which include sidewalks or ditches, and the area between utility lines or fences on the outside edges of state roads, according to the county.

Only VDOT has the authority to remove signs from state roads and right of ways. On private property, campaign signs should be taken down within 15 days after the election.

Information provided by VDOT and Fairfax County.