Deadline approaching to remove Delaware election signs

Candidates who participated in the November election have until Thursday, Dec. 6, to take down any remaining campaign signs along state roads before fines kick in.

Starting Dec. 7, candidates will be charged $25 for each sign still on display. There’s an additional $15 fee to have the sign returned.

“On Friday we’re going to start reluctantly handing out fines that are still in the state right of way,” said Jim Westhoff, DelDot community relations officer.

According to an exception to the road sign rule, campaign signs are permitted in the state’s right of way up to 30 days before an election and 30 days after an election.

According to DelDot, after a while, signs can obstruct views and become dangerous for drivers.

“We want to keep the state’s right of ways clear of obstructions,” said Westhoff. “These obstructions can be for sight, also, it’s difficult for people to mow around them and during heavy winds, the signs become airborne and end up in the road or in a farmer’s field so people need to keep the roads clean.”

With unseasonably warm temperatures this past weekend, it appears that many candidates have already taken the initiative. By mid-afternoon Monday, most campaign signs were removed in New Castle County including along Rt. 13, Rt. 273, I-95, Historic New Castle, the Wilmington Riverfront and the City of Wilmington.