As state and local politicians run for office, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) hopes the campaign trail doesn’t run commuters off the road.
INDOT reportedly received numerous complaints from residents regarding political campaign signage along state highways in the southeast portion of the state. Indiana law prohibits campaign signs from federal and state highway right-of-way.
State highway crews have been removing campaign signs and other illegal postings from right-of-ways during normal maintenance activities.
Individual signs that are too close to the road or could cause obstruction to a driver are specifically targeted.
According to INDOT, The right-of-way areas which must remain “sign-free” include:
- All interstates and their interchanges; and
- All intersections where at least one local, state or federal road intersects with a state or federal highway; and
- All rights-of-way paralleling federal or state highways;
- Where right-of-way is not clearly marked, it may be estimated as the back of the ditch, to the fence line or up to utility poles.
Removed signs are taken to the nearest INDOT subdistrict office where they can be re-claimed by their owners between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Aurora Subdistrict—8074 U.S. 50 at Aurora, Ind., 812-926-0376
Bloomington Subdistrict—2965 Prow Road at Bloomington, Ind., 812-332-1411
Columbus Subdistrict—3545 Two Mile Road at Columbus, Ind., 812-372-7837
Falls City Subdistrict—5701 U.S. Highway 31 at Clarksville, Ind., 812-282-7493
Madison Subdistrict—1875 W. JPG Woodfill Road at Madison, Ind., 812-574-4368
The INDOT Seymour District Customer Service Desk can be called at 877-305-7611.
