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Candidates asked to take down signboards
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Posted on Aug 30 2005
Political candidates were asked yesterday to take down their signboards in anticipation of tropical storm Nabi.
The Marianas Public Lands Authority issued the advisory at the recommendation of the Emergency Management Office. “All candidates who have signs erected on public lands [are requested] to secure them for safety purposes,” MPLA compliance chief John Oliver Gonzales said.
Tropical storm Nabi was packing winds of 50 miles per hour, as of 5:30pm yesterday. It was expected to become a typhoon Tuesday evening, EMO said.
In view of this, Gov. Juan N. Babauta declared Saipan, Tinian, and Rota on tropical storm condition 3 yesterday afternoon.
In related news, Gonzales reported that the MPLA compliance division had taken down some political signboards for non-compliance with terms of the permit.
He said the violators included candidates from all political parties, as well as independent candidates.
“Most of the seized signboards obstructed the line of sight of vehicles and passersby. We are getting various complaints from the public. There was one case when a signboard literally caused an accident in Oleai,” Gonzales said. “Large or small, a violation is a violation. Our utmost concern is public safety.”
He said candidates were given several warnings—verbal and written—before their signboards were torn down.
MPLA prohibits candidates from putting up any signboards on trees or political poles situated on any piece of public land. Signboards may not be erected within 50 feet from any traffic light, or within six feet of any road pavement or any right-of-way.
No signboards may be placed on any public buildings, facilities, monuments, public parks, and tourist sites, MPLA added.
A non-refundable, one-time fee of $100 is collected from each candidate seeking to place signboards on public land.
“A candidate may place any number of signboards after paying the required non-refundable fee. If, for example, three candidates wish to place their names on one signboard, then the three candidates have to pay the fee separately for a total sum of $300,” according to MPLA.
The MPLA also stressed that the signboards must be taken down 5 days after the election.
