JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — We see them while driving around Jacksonville.
Illegally posted signs are taking over the streets.
Ever notice signs like this while driving around town?
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) November 23, 2019
Did you know the City of Jacksonville is raking in thousands of dollars from illegal snipe signs?
Just how much money they made this year in fines, at 10 on FOX30 @ActionNewsJax. pic.twitter.com/URTk13YZu7
They're called snipe signs, but Thomas Williams calls them an eyesore.
"It's trash," Williams said. "I consider it litter."
It's illegal to post signs on public property. Fines range from $55 to $555
If an illegal sign is placed more than 5 feet above ground level on public utility poles, you could be issued a $355 citation.
The City of Jacksonville is raking in thousands of dollars from the signs.
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The Neighborhoods Department, Municipal Code Compliance Division (MCCD) issued 1,322 citations for signs placed within city rights-of-way during Fiscal Year 2018 – 2019.
In 2019, the COJ collected $84,421 in fines for sign violations. The city made $61,192 in 2018. It was $55,379 in 2017. In 2016, the fines brought in $82,149. The year before, $67,870 was collected by the city.
"It'd be interesting to know where exactly that money goes and what it's spent on," Williams said.
We asked the city and found the Litter Trust Fund is split between JTA and MCCD. JTA uses 70% of the fund for maintaining bus stops/bus shelters. MCCD uses the fund to employ two part-time sign enforcement officers.
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