Town Reminds Candidates Where They Can Post Political Signs

Salem is reminding political candidates and their supporters where campaign signs are permissible.

The town of Salem has posted political guidelines on its website. Some of the dos and don'ts:

• No political advertising shall be placed on or affixed to any public property including highway rights‐of‐way or private property without the owner's consent.
• Political advertising shall not be placed on or affixed to utility poles or highway signs.
• Political advertising placed on or affixed to any public property may be removed by state, city, or town maintenance or law enforcement personnel.
• Political advertising may be placed within state‐owned rights‐of‐way as long as the advertising does not obstruct the safe flow of traffic and the advertising is placed with the consent of the owner of the land over which the right‐of‐way passes.

• Right‐of‐way means all land adjacent to the traveled portion of a public way or street that lies between the property lines of adjacent property owners.
• Typically, the right‐of‐way includes 10‐12 feet of land beyond the edge of the paved or improved surface of the roadway.
• Telephone poles, fire hydrants, and sidewalks are typically located within the right‐of‐way; therefore, political advertising should always be placed to the non‐street side of these objects.