Images of campaign signs were obtained from the public Facebook posts of the respective candidates and are used under fair use for news reporting. Their inclusion is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement. No candidates have paid for, sponsored, or approved this content. Compiled by April Rodgers for FreeWire.
By April Rodgers, Freelance Journalist | FreeWire — Your News, Your Voice
As election season ramps up across the area, campaign signs for candidates such as Alena T. Fox, Terry Spiegel, and Kevin Myers are beginning to appear in yards throughout the community. While these signs are a visible part of the democratic process, it’s important to remember that removing, damaging, or defacing them is a crime.
Under Ohio law, political yard signs are considered private property. Taking or destroying them can result in multiple criminal charges, including:
•Theft: Removing a campaign sign without permission constitutes theft, since it belongs to another person or campaign.
•Trespassing: Entering someone’s property to take or damage a sign is considered trespassing.
•Vandalism or Criminal Mischief: Damaging, defacing, or destroying a sign may lead to a vandalism charge.
While such offenses are typically misdemeanors, in Ohio they can rise to the level of a fifth-degree felony in certain circumstances. A conviction could mean fines of up to $2,500 and even possible jail time.
Parents: a friendly reminder, as children head out for Halloween festivities, it’s a good idea to talk with them about respecting other people’s property, including political yard signs. Even playful removal or defacing of a sign is considered theft or vandalism and can carry legal consequences. Teaching kids about respecting property helps keep the holiday fun and safe for everyone.
As campaign season continues, residents are encouraged to respect property rights and the political expression of others. Disagreeing with a candidate’s message is never a justification for tampering with their signs.
*The signs featured were selected based on those personally observed by the author in the northwest area of Bucyrus, where she lives, works, and travels most frequently. Other candidates may also have signs displayed in different areas of the community.
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to your site when you could be giving us something informative to read?