Is removing campaign signs from the private property of another against the law?

Posted Sunday, August 9, 2009 by admin


I have a friend who displays campaign signs in his yard and they have been stolen or removed several times. There are no neighborhood restrictions that would come into play and the signs are placed well out of the public right-of-way that borders the street. He asked a police officer if this was a crime and they told him that it wasn’t. Is this correct?
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Posted in Law Enforcement & Police

12 Comments on "Is removing campaign signs from the private property of another against the law?"

  • only p said on Aug 12th, 2009 at 9:13 PM:

    In Florida a permit is required for all signs or banners. Signs are removed by the local Code Enforcement Agency.

  • ablex said on Aug 15th, 2009 at 10:54 AM:

    I would think that the sign is the property of the candidate or the homeowner, and should be protected like any other property.

  • NYPD.Hwy505. said on Aug 17th, 2009 at 5:03 AM:

    If it is not your property then that is a larceny and trespass. If fenced in it may be considered in some jurisdictions as a burglary.

    First Amendment Rights – In Florida yes you need permits – but not on your personal property as long as it does not cause public alarm. Authorities may not cross onto your curtiledge for such a thing; it would be a lawsuit in a NY second.

    Not only that – but there is a law protecting campaign signs from being removed – period.

  • Ron N said on Aug 20th, 2009 at 11:26 AM:

    Answer is Yes. You can not remove a campaign sign from
    someone else’s property,

  • Sami V said on Aug 22nd, 2009 at 12:46 PM:

    It seems to be an offence under Tresspassers Ordinance!

  • Stewie Griffin said on Aug 23rd, 2009 at 5:42 AM:

    only p is a stupid idiot who doesn’t know trespassing and theft of property is a crime. The only rationale why a cop would give false information is because he doesn’t want to arrest someone for that

  • TPhi said on Aug 25th, 2009 at 11:03 AM:

    It is against the law in my state (NC)

  • Justin P said on Aug 26th, 2009 at 12:09 AM:

    I would think that messing with anyones property would be a crime. In texas if someone does this you can shoot them.

  • Brian A said on Aug 27th, 2009 at 9:37 AM:

    It could be construed as theft, vandalism, and/or trespassing. The cop either didn’t want to be bothered with it or isn’t well versed in the law.

  • Kenneth C said on Aug 29th, 2009 at 3:47 AM:

    I would charge it as stealing here. Taking property of another with the purpose of depriving them of that property by taking it without consent.

  • tjadam2 said on Aug 30th, 2009 at 12:05 AM:

    Yes. Theft is in the dictionary, I think it meets the criteria.

  • laughter_every_day said on Aug 30th, 2009 at 4:37 PM:

    trespass and larceny

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