A local council in Dallas has seen the light, and slashed fines for infringements related to garage sale signs.
On Monday night, Plano City Council unanimously voted to reduce the range of garage sale sign fines by shrinking the maximum penalty from $2,000 to $500, and by moving sign regulations from the city's zoning ordinance to its general code.
A summer enforcement push to control signs in median strips and other public areas drew a flood of complaints from garage sellers who received fines topping $500. The city handed out 179 tickets in less than two months before suspending the enforcement blitz in October.
Under the old regulations, which resulted from a local referendum 15 years ago, illegal temporary signs could attract a fine up to $2,000. The local garage sale committee asked the council to consider amending the ordinance to target chronic violators of sign rules, as well as those who do not remove sale signs promptly.
Another resident asked Plano council not to lose sight of the original intent of the 1990 referendum, when 63 percent of voters agreed that street clutter had gotten out of hand. .
The lessons for garage sale operators?
1. Make sure you know, and abide by, your local council’s sign rules - they’re generally quite reasonable; and.
2. Participate in any local debates on garage sale regulation so you can howl down draconian proposals at their first airing! .