Response to ANSWER

A reader sent a comment to my earlier post (see the comments) about ANSWER being fined in regards to its posters for a September 15 march in DC. I haven't tried to check it out, but the commenter offers the following as the contents of an email from the DC Department of Public Works citing ANSWER's violations of code:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: LINDA GRANT

Tuesday, August 14, 2007 (202) 671-2375/desk

(202) 497-1080/cell

Linda.grant@dc.gov


DPW STATEMENT REGARDING FINES LEVIED FOR IMPROPERLY POSTED ANTI-WAR POSTERS


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DC regulations (DCMR Title 24, Section 108) provide guidelines for posting signs in public space. The regulations balance free speech with keeping the city neat by: 1. supporting the right to free speech by giving people access to public space to express themselves; and 2. Keeping the public space from appearing cluttered by limiting the number of signs per block. The District hosts marches and protests all the time and we never weigh in on the merits of the issues, rather our role is to keep the city neat.


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DPW asks people to respect District of Columbia residents by following the guidelines.


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These posters were improperly placed for the following reasons:


o

More than three signs were posted on one side of a block, the guidelines limit the number to three. (108.10)
o

The posters were placed on more than lampposts, which is the only place where they are allowed. (100, which says if the site is not mentioned, posters cannot be placed there.)
o

The posters were fixed to lampposts and utility boxes using an adhesive, which is not allowed. The larger posters are taking 20 to 30 minutes to remove. (108.9)
o

The posters do not provide the date they were placed. (108.7)
o

No one filed two copies of the materials with the Mayor's DC government designee (Office of Surface Permits). The filing should be made within 24 hours of posting each sign and include the name, address, and telephone number of the posters' originator. (108.11)

If true, it would seem that ANSWER's claim to have been within the law is false. It might be interesting to have some information on other fines for poster infractions in DC. But I'm much too lazy to check into it.

Update 8/16/07: ANSWER wasn't actually fined, after all. They were told to remove the illegal posters or be fined.