[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of
the Town of Coventry as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 12-10-2007 by Ord. No. 10-07-262[1]]
[1]
Note: Yard sale signs shall have a grace period
of 72 hours before this ordinance shall take effect.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any Town way or state highway or as defined in Title 45 of
the Rhode Island General Laws.
An object, device, display, structure or part thereof, situated
outdoors, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or
attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization,
business, product, service, event or location by means of words, letters,
figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination or projected
images. The term "sign" includes, without limitation, posters, placards,
flyers, leaflets, handbills, circulars and any kinds of posted notices.
No person shall place or cause to be placed
any sign on any utility pole, light pole, traffic control device or
tree within the right-of-way of any public way.
A.
Any person who places or causes to be placed a sign
in violation of this article commits a civil violation for which a
civil penalty of no less than $100 and no more than $250 shall be
imposed. Each day a sign remains in violation of this article constitutes
a separate violation. Further, the Municipal Court shall have the
power, in its sole discretion, to assess reimbursement to the Town
of Coventry for any reasonable costs of removal and/or storage of
any sign.
B.
In lieu of or in addition to seeking civil penalties,
the Town of Coventry may remove any sign existing in violation of
this article according to the following procedure:
(1)
Prior to removing a sign, the Town shall attempt to
contact the owner of the sign based on any identifying information
which appears on the sign.
(2)
If the Town succeeds in contacting the owner of the
sign, the Town shall order the owner to remove the sign within 24
hours and notify the owner that if the owner does not remove the sign,
the Town will remove the sign and destroy it. Such order and notification
may be oral or written.
(3)
If the owner does not remove the sign within 24 hours
after being ordered to do so or if the Town is unable to contact the
owner of the sign, the Town may remove the sign and store it in a
secure location on Town property.
(4)
The Town shall store the sign for at least seven days.
If by the end of the seven days the owner has not reclaimed the sign,
the Town may destroy or otherwise dispose of the sign.
This article shall be enforced by the Town of
Coventry Code Enforcement Officer/Building Official.
This article applies in addition to the restrictions
and requirements applicable to signs under Article 15 of the Zoning
Ordinance of the Town of Coventry, and any other Town ordinance. In
the event of conflict or inconsistency between applicable ordinances,
the more restrictive ordinance shall govern.
This article does not apply to signs placed
by governmental authorities.
