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Dear Editor, It's campaign season again, and a new crop of yard signs are beginning to pop up all over NE Iowa. And, unfortunately, some are incorrectly located in right-of-ways, and some have been stolen. Yard signs can serve as one way to be engaged in the democratic process of free and fair elections, and a way to use our voices to help influence our friends, neighbors and passerby. It's also free speech protected, by the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Here are just a few reminders regarding yard signs: Do not place yard signs in right-of-ways: Yard signs cannot be placed in the city's or the county's right-of-ways or boulevards. City, county, and state officials can and may remove any signs or obstructions placed in their right-of-ways. If you live where there are sidewalks, then be sure your signs are in your yard. They cannot be in the city's boulevard. If you do not have sidewalks in your city, be sure your signs are not in the right-of-way used by the city. In some places, that will be 37.5 feet from center of the road, in others it will be 33 feet from center of the road. If you live in the rural areas of the county, your yard signs need to be at least 33 feet back from the center line on most county roads, and at least 75 feet from the center line on most state highways. Do not steal yard signs. This is theft of property, and can be prosecuted. Do not vandalize yard signs. This is vandalism, and can also be prosecuted. Recycle yard signs. Drop off at the Freeport Recycling Center 24 hour drop off shed. Please remove the metal supports so they can be recycled separately. www.winneshiekwaste.com IOWA DOT's Location RestrictionsIowa law states that political campaign signs are not allowed on any property: Owned by the state or the governing body of a county, city or other political subdivision of thestate, including all property considered public right-of-way (examples include buildings,bridges, trees or other natural features, fire hydrants, traffic control signs or devices,utility poles, posts, gates, fences, and vehicles); Owned by a prohibited contributor under section 68A.503 of the Code of Iowa, unless the sign advocates the passage ordefeat of a ballot issue or is exempted; Without the permission of the property owner; On election day, either on the premises of any polling place or within 300 feet of anyoutside door of any building affording access to any room where the polls are held, or ofany outside door of any building affording access to any hallway, corridor, stairway, orother means of reaching the room where the polls are held; and within 300 feet of an absentee voting site or satellite absentee voting station, during the hours when absentee ballots are available. Please find more details regarding campaign signs along roadways at this link. Let's all agree to stay civil with each other and respect each other's property in thiselection season. Please leave the yard signs alone. Respectfully submitted together by: Shirley Vermace and Dan Hovden of Decorah, Iowa Unlock a world of knowledge! Sign up for free DecorahNews.com newsletters and receive local news, local events and everything that is happening in and around Decorah.

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Letter to the Editor - Yard Sign Ettiquette