Fine politicians for campaign signs?

They pop up like weeds every spring. I'm talking about political signs that litter our highways during every election cycle.

You'll never convince me that a candidate gains a single vote by putting his or her name on a campaign sign and sticking it on the side of the road, but politicians and challengers spend lots of money to promote their names on signs. (And in a minute, I'll give you names of politicians who piss me off by not collecting their signs).

I've noticed that signs are going up earlier every year. Some candidates believe they can get the edge on their opponent by being the first to put up signs. Other have a different strategy. They wait until two weeks before the election to plant their signs on grassy areas. I guess the reasoning there is that drivers have gotten sick of looking at the same signs for two months and will vote for the person on the new sign.

I've also noticed that politicians and their supporters are always playing a game of leap frog with signs, placing their signs directly in front of an opponent to obstruct their rival's name. One candidate I'm familiar with came up with a clever tactic for the May 15 primary this year. She would place five of her signs lined up edge to edge in front of a rival's signs, obscuring his name completely. She means business.

Some people get upset with the proliferation of political signs. An elderly man went on a rampage last year and tore down more than 80 signs for Congressman Jim Gerlach. The elderly man was charged by police, but I don't think the case ever made it court.

Someone suggested municipalities should charged politicians for planting signs on public property. Maybe PennDOT can raise some money to fix those highways and bridges by charging rental space along state highways.

But you keep running up against that whole First Amendment freedom of speech thing.

My only beef with political signs is when politicians fail to collect their signs after the election is over.

I don't mean they have to rush out the next morning after an election to gather up all the signs. But certainly a week is plenty of time for candidates and their supporters to collect campaign signs.

Today is exactly two weeks since the May 15 primary and I still see a lot of campaign signs on the side of major roadways I travel.

I live in Berks County and spend most of my time on roads in Berks. The biggest offenders in failing to remove their political signs this year are Republican Tim Rowley, Democrat Tom Gajewski, Republican Nelson Long, Democrat David Batdorf and Democrat Tom McMahon, who is the current mayor of Reading and makes a big deal about trying to clean up trash in the city. Why don't you start with your campaign signs, Mr. Mayor?

Rowley, Gajewski and McMahon won their respective primaries and will be on the ballot in the fall. Maybe some voters will hold it against them in November if they don't take down their signs.

And will somebody please take down the Ed Rendell for Governor and Bob Casey Jr. for Senator signs at the ramp off the West Shore Bypass at Lancaster Avenue in Reading. They've been there since November 2006!