MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION ENHANCING
CITY'S POSTERING LAW

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

"The next bill before me today is Introductory Number 146 -A, sponsored by Council Members McMahon, Comrie, DeBlasio, Dilan, Gerson, Jackson, Nelson, Recchia, Rivera, Sears, Weprin, Boyland, Provenzano and Quinn.

"Intro. 146-A amends the City's existing Poster Law by enhancing enforcement against Poster Law violators. The Department of Sanitation and other City agencies, including the Department of Transportation, have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of illegal postings on City streets. In particular, the number of unlawful postings of advertisements, stickers and posters on traffic signs and signals has swelled in recent years. Postings on traffic control devices, such as stop signs and yield signs, and highway exit signs obstruct the traffic messages, creating potentially dangerous situations. As a result, both vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the City are at a greater risk of accidents.

"Intro. 146-A amongst other things:

• Expands the definition of the manner in which a poster or other printed material can be illegally affixed to street furniture to now include stickers or any other innovative way people may find to affix printed material;
• Increases the fine for a first offense from $50 to $75 and from $100 to $150 for a second offense and each subsequent offense;
• Adds the cost of clean up to civil penalties imposed by the Environmental Control Board;
• Creates a Citizen Reward Program to assist with Poster Law enforcement; and
• Grants the Sanitation Commissioner the power to subpoena telephone company records to ascertain the identity of the individual or business responsible for the posting.