Is This Sign Illegal?

The sign ordinance in Rockville was adopted to strictly limit the “visual blight caused by the unregulated proliferation of signs”. This is why businesses pay people to carry signs along Rockville Pike, often in costume. I saw a giant dollar bill today!

Last month Capital One renamed all the Chevy Chase Banks. As a 21-year customer of Chevy Chase, the change has required an adjustment for me. When the branch on Hungerford Drive put up their new signage, this sign appeared right next to the roadway.

I’ve been wondering if this sign is legal under the Rockville City Code.

Section 19.5-11S forbids:

Signs erected by any person on any public property or right-of-way except for signs erected by or at the direction of the City

This sign is so close to the road, it must be in the right-of-way. If all the businesses along Hungerford put up signs at driveway entrances, our City would certainly experience visual clutter. Signs also pose a hazard because they block drivers’ views.

So, is this sign illegal? Should it be removed?

POTD: Begin

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Cool story behind this photo by Julia Defino Leiby. According to her mother Theresa Defino: “How long was this sign up like this? Julia wanted to shoot this and rode her bike to get it. She finally got a shot on Tuesday, and today I saw it was fixed!”

Thank you, Julia.

POTD: Tabula Rasa

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(With apologies to John Locke. No, not that one.) Whenever I see this sign, I feel like it’s just waiting for someone to write on it.

POTD: Perpetual Joy

> This struck me as hilarious. It reminds me of Lake Wobegon, where every child is above average.

POTD: Tall Flower

> We don’t know if this sunflower is trying to disguise the signs, compete with their height, or…?

(Photo by cindycg)

POTD: Bugged

> I love driving by this building. It’s the side of the Womack Pest Control building on Congressional.

POTD: Who You Calling Slow?

> Surely they don’t mean our kids are “slow?”

Street Signs

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