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Minnesota Department of Transportation <br />NEWS RELEASE <br />District 3 <br />3725 12th St. N. <br />St. Cloud, MN 56303 -2107 <br />April 24, 2014 <br />For Immediate Release <br />Contact: J.P. Gillach <br />218- 828 -5706 <br />iames.gillacha- state.mn.us <br />Unauthorized signs and objects not allowed on state highway rights <br />of way <br />ST CLOUD, Minn. -- The Minnesota Department of Transportation reminds citizens that <br />placing unauthorized signs and other objects on state highway rights of way is illegal and can <br />be dangerous. <br />"As the weather warms, we usually see a significant increase in advertising signs and items <br />for sale placed illegally along state roadways," said Mark Renn, MnDOT's roadway <br />regulations supervisor in St. Cloud. <br />Placing signs or objects in highway rights of way is a misdemeanor violation with a maximum <br />$1,000 fine and /or 90 days in jail. Highway rights of way include driving lanes, shoulders, <br />ditches, clear zones and sight corners at intersections. <br />State law also says that items may not be placed on private property outside of the right of <br />way limits but in proximity to a roadway without consent of the landowner. <br />"Illegally placed signs and objects can distract and restrict the visibility of drivers in many <br />situations, especially at intersections," said Rich Munch, MnDOT's roadway regulations <br />supervisor in the Baxter. "They are also a hazard to legal users of the right of way, including <br />people using ATVs and crews working on utilities." <br />MnDOT crews will remove all signs within the right of way without notice. <br />Larger objects often placed illegally in the right of way include automobiles, boats and <br />motors, campers, travel trailers, produce stands and large hay bales. These objects are <br />extremely hazardous if a vehicle runs off the road and strikes it. <br />For information regarding roadway regulations, right of way boundaries, or where to find <br />removed materials, please contact the MnDOT office in St. Cloud at 320 - 223 -6522, toll free <br />1- 800 - 657 -3961; or the Baxter headquarters at 218- 828 -5777 or toll free at 1- 800 - 657 -3971. <br />