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PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor H.B. 169
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SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2002.
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May 15, 2002
The Honorable Casper R. Taylor, Jr.
Speaker of the House
State House
Annapolis MD 21401
Dear Mr. Speaker:
In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, I have today
vetoed House Bill 169 - Political Posters - Worcester County.
House Bill 169 removes Worcester County from the list of counties in which persons
are banned from placing posters or advertisements on public property. In other words,
if House Bill 169 were signed into law, it would be legal to place political signs or
advertisements on public property in Worcester County. However, earlier this month,
I signed Senate Bill 1, now Chapter 291 of the Acts of 2002, which repeals the section
of law that House Bill 169 amends.
My decision to veto House Bill 169 is not based on any support for the proliferation of
political signs or any type of signs on public property. To the contrary, I believe there
should be additional restrictions, and more strict enforcement, regarding the
placement of all signs. Many Marylanders share my distaste for the proliferation of
signs that clutter our public spaces. In some instances, signs can serve as distractions
or block the view of a motorist or pedestrian, posing a safety hazard. Frequently,
articles in the press detail efforts of Maryland citizens who take it upon themselves to
help remove these illegal or unwanted signs from beside our roadways. These efforts
are indicative of the increased frustration many people feel towards these eyesores.
The provisions of Senate Bill 1 that repeal this section of law were inserted based on
advice of the Attorney General's Office that the current law would likely be found
unconstitutional if challenged in court, based on the statute's specific targeting of
political signs. I would encourage the General Assembly and the next Governor to
evaluate ways to legally restrict the placement of signs of any type on public property
and develop improved methods of enforcing these laws.
For the above reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 169.
Sincerely,
Parris N. Glendening
Governor
House Bill No. 169
AN ACT concerning
Political Posters - Worcester County
FOR the purpose of eliminating the application of a certain provision regulating the
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-5011 -
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