Roadside Litter
Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
 
        In the 1970's when FairfaxCounty was divided into two legislative districts with five delegates representing each half, one candidate used roadside signs as his major strategy for getting elected.  He went about the northern half of FairfaxCounty attaching his signs to every fence and signpost, utility pole, and even some trees in the district.  He literally had thousands of signs.  When the election results were in, he ran last among the ten candidates for the House of Delegates. 
 
        I have never observed a race where there was a clear relationship between the number of signs and the outcome of the election.  Experts who study communications say that most people are oblivious to roadside signs unless they are involved in the message of the sign.  For example, realtors and prospective buyers notice real estate signs; others of us tune them out.  Persons who participate in election campaigns notice political signs intensely and oftentimes judge the strength of the campaign by the number of signs posted.  The result is that if you drive through southern FairfaxCounty or into Alexandria you can face a sea of signs along the roadway.  It has become part of the local culture to see how many signs can be put up for a candidate.  Invariably a debate ensues as to who is taking down whose signs.
 
        Fortunately, the community of Reston has been spared the major sign wars.  Most campaigns recognize the respect that Restonians have for their community and the environment and only sparingly display signs here.  I hope we can keep it that way.  Actually, placing signs in the highway right-of-way or in the median is illegal (Section 33.1-378, Code of Virginia).  The law came about for the safety concern that some may block the drivers' full vision, all provide a distraction from driving, and they add to the cost of roadway cleaning and maintenance.  Each year the Virginia Department of Transportation sends all candidates a letter advising them of the law regarding signs.
 
        For those who want to express their freedom of speech and participate in the election, there is the option to put the sign in one's yard or other private property or put a bumper strip on one's car.  For candidates it is an opportunity to show one's concern for the environment by not contributing to roadside litter.  I will have signs at the polling places on Election Day, but otherwise I plan to make bumper strips and small window and office signs available to persons who request them for use on their personal property (kenplum@aol.com).  We simply cannot let Reston become littered with signs like we see in other communities.