A Washington Post article (2019-09-23) reported that Prince George’s County will seek to remove 5,000 illegal road signs over two days. The removal is part of County Executive Angela Alsobrooks’s “beautification initiative,” which targets illegal dumping and bulk trash removal. Litter has been a long-standing problem in the County.

The article that the initiative is being carried out by the County’s Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement along with the Department of Public Works and Transportation, the Department of the Environment, and the Maryland State Highway Administration. Several municipalities also participated.

From the article:

Melinda Bolling, who heads the department, said the sign blitz will also focus on public education, informing residents that posting illegal signs violates the county code and could lead to a fine of up to $1,000.

Bolling said in the news release that the signs “are an eyesore and they create a potential hazard.” Complaints about sign litter are some of the most frequent that the department receives.

“They distract drivers and interfere with their line of sight,” Bolling said in the news release. “We want our citizens who are doing this to understand they cannot advertise on the side of the road. It is illegal and can be dangerous.”