Carson City examining changing political sign code

Carson City residents could be allowed to display political signs year-round if the city changes its code.

Political signs have to be removed 14 days after an election under current city code, but city staff say the code could violate free speech rights.

The city planning commission could recommend March 25 that the city board of supervisors change the code.

Planning Director Lee Plemel said he worked with the district attorney's office after getting complaints about political sign violations after the November election.

Complaints were about campaign signs for Barack Obama and John McCain, he said.

Someone could get a misdemeanor citation for violating the current code, he said.

The city should change the code because "it could be deemed to violate free speech provisions of the U.S. Constitution," he said in a report.

Kevin McCoy, city code enforcement office, said he got six written and several phone complaints about political signs at homes after the November election. People complained about signs in yards or on garages, he said.

McCoy said he didn't ask people to take down the signs because the city was looking at changing the code.

He said he would normally tell people about the code if they were violating it and ask them to take down the sign. He has never had to give out a citation, he said.

- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.