During this election season, the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Dickinson County Road Commission remind all candidates that campaign signs can interfere with motorist and pedestrian vision along streets and highways.

Signage at intersections and other places in the right-of-way can also be problematic for maintenance operations.

Candidates are advised of MDOT’s sign placement criteria:

— Political candidates are responsible for obtaining approval from the adjacent property owner to place the signs.

— Signs must be more than 30 feet from the edge of the roadway (white line) for highways that do not have barrier-type curbs. For highways with barrier curbs, the signs must be more than 3 feet from the back of the curb.

— Signs are not permitted within areas used for clear vision at intersections or commercial driveways so they will not interfere with the sight distance of a driver. No signs may be placed within the limited access rights-of-way, such as freeways, including ramps.

— Any illegally placed signs will be removed. Signs removed by MDOT crews will be kept for seven days at a local MDOT office or maintenance garage, then discarded.

— All signs are to be removed within 10 days after the election.

The above rules are for state roads under MDOT jurisdiction — I, M and U.S. routes — not local county, township or municipal roads. Communities may also have local ordinances that restrict sign placement.

Rules adopted by the Dickinson County Road Commission are:

— Signs adjacent to county roads must be placed a minimum of 14 feet from the outside edge of the shoulder of the roadway.

— Political signs should not be placed within the “clear vision” areas on intersections that will interfere with safety.

— All political signs must be removed from the county right-of-way within 10 days after the election.

— The road commission reserves the right to remove any sign that has not been placed in accordance with the policy.