GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1895

Short Title:  Cleanup Campaign Signs Law.	(Public)
─────────────────────────────────────── 
Sponsors: Representatives Ellis; Hall, Justus, and Warner.
─────────────────────────────────────── 
Referred to:  Judiciary III.
─────────────────────────────────────── 

May 30, 1994

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR PERSONS TO REPORT CAMPAIGN SIGNS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN REMOVED ON A TIMELY BASIS AFTER THE ELECTION CYCLE, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RAISING REVENUE BY LEVYING A CIVIL PENALTY ON PERSONS WHO HAVE FAILED TO REMOVE THE SIGNS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 163-278.1. Failure to remove campaign signs on a timely basis.
(a)	All campaign signs must be removed from public rights-of-way within 14 days after the end of the election cycle.  For the purpose of this section, an election cycle ends the earlier of the date of the general election, or the primary or second primary if the candidate is defeated in the primary or second primary, except that in election with a nonpartisan runoff, the election cycle ends with that runoff.
(b)	The State Board of Elections shall establish a telephone line which can be reached from within North Carolina without toll charges, for persons to report campaign signs which have not been removed as required by subsection (a) of this section.  If the State Board of Elections receives such a report, including the location of the sign and the name of the candidate, it shall notify the candidate by first-class mail.  If the candidate fails to remove the sign within 14 days after the State Board of Elections mails the notification, the State Board of Elections shall levy a civil penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) against the candidate.
(c)	Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict the right of any person to remove illegally posted signs without following the procedure of this section.
(d)	Any campaign sign placed in a public place must include the toll-free number established under this section preceded by the words "FOR REMOVAL OF THIS SIGN, CALL STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS:".
(e)	Nothing in this section makes lawful posting any sign in a public place if it is unlawful under any statute or validly adopted ordinance or regulation."
Sec. 2. This act becomes effective January 1, 1995.