”
Hey Red Phone, I just want to report a dangerous billboard, and
I think an illegal billboard coming into Gilroy on Pachecho Pass
Highway.
Dangerous Signs
“Hey Red Phone, I just want to report a dangerous billboard, and I think an illegal billboard coming into Gilroy on Pachecho Pass Highway. It’s for a restaurant in Tres Pinos of all things and it’s when you come into Gilroy it’s like La Cantina, and it’s a portable billboard and I think it’s illegal on the side of the road on somebody’s property, it’s a big A-frame on wheels and highway patrol should tell that business to get rid of that sign. Thanks, bye.”
Red Phone:
Caller, the technical term for that A-Frame on wheels is an A-board sign, and planning division manager for the city, Bill Faus said there are provisions, about them.
“They are regulated, and we have one exception and they are signs for new residential subdivisions, which can only be a 4-foot by 8-foot sheet of plywood. They are allowed to put up three and they have to contact us first and get permission.”
Faus also explained that the sign you are referring to caller, is probably outside the Gilroy jurisdiction, and therefore, is controlled by Santa Clara County.
too many signs?
“Hi Red Phone, I’m just wondering if the Gilroy Gallery Furniture Store is going to be fined for all of the signs that they put up all over town. I counted eight on Monterey Highway, 16 on 10th Street all from that gallery, it’s like graffiti being put all over by one business in town. I just thought they should be fined by the Gilroy Police Department for violating the sign ordinance. Thank you for finding out for me, bye.”
Red Phone:
Caller your complaint can be rectified, but it has to be done by way of a formal complaint. Faus explained that regulation and citations given are generated only as a response to a complaint. After being offended by the ‘sign graffiti’, you can go down to city hall to complain, call or e-mail, and that gets the ball rolling. After receiving the complaint, an officer heads out to investigate the situation, and contacts the person who is in turn is usually given 24 to 48 hours to do something about it. If nothing is done, a final notice will be given and, if the offensive signage still exists, a citation will be given.
Citations are taken to court, similar to traffic tickets. The judge then decides how much the person or business will be cited.
“Every case is individual and we try to design the enforcement timeline (how long they have to take the signs down) based on the nature of the violation and how many complaints we have received about it, so it all depends on how big the issue is,” Faus said.
So good caller, if you see some signage you find offensive, complain, and if you really want something done, have your friends call and complain also to increase your odds of retribution.
Readers:
Do you have a comment, complaint or compliment about an issue that affects Gilroy and its residents? Perhaps you’d like to suggest a turn signal at a troubled intersection? Or maybe offer up a compliment for a good job done by city workers? Let the Red Phone know. But remember to leave a name and phone number. Contact Red Phone at 842-9070 or e-mail
re******@gi************.com
.
