On a warm afternoon in October 1 last year, woodland Mountain resident Richard Lind carefully printed "rental houses" on six works in 8 1/2"by-11-
His pocket was stuffed with a box of thumbs and he drove the van to nail the sheets on the pole.
Last week, a surprised front-runner found that the ordinary task cost him $194. 20.
"Your logo has been posted illegally," an order 63-year-
The old contractor paid a high price for creating "bad conditions" in his community. "I'm shocked.
"I'm just a little guy trying to rent a house," Lind said . ".
"I admit I hung up the sign.
But it seems to be a severe punishment for nailing a brand on the pole.
"Linder is one of 528 Los Angeles residents who received the first expensive bills from the Los Angeles Department of Public Works, part of a radical new law --
City staff are dismantling the illegally posted logo and a law enforcement plan to charge offenders for the removal service.
Public works officials say the days of binding, DingTalk and recording everything from "garage for sale", "sale" and even the "Lost Dog" sign on the telephone and lamppost have
The goal of the city is to charge high fees to offenders-
Homeowners, big developers and entrepreneurs-
To stop their long-standing common practice.
"You can no longer use public property as a form of free advertising," Patrick D said . "
Howard, director of street maintenance, public works department.
"This disease is harmful to the vast majority of people.
It's visual pollution.
Our goal is to stop it.
"This harsh law, approved by the City Council on last August, was generated by strong complaints from homeowners who flouted a large number of real estate and other signs of disrupting city streets.
Anger has sometimes reached such a high level in the last three years
The streets, known as the "sign duty officer", are turning over illegal posters to protest against weak city sign regulations.
While it has been a minor offence to put a sign on public property for more than 40 years, city officials have in fact had to catch the offender in the act to make charges.
Officials say only a few violators have been prosecuted in the past few years.
Street maintenance officials say about half a million illegally posted signs throughout the city on any given day, an estimate from a sample survey of busy streets.
The new legal assumption introduced by MP Hal Burnson that those who benefit from the logo can bear the responsibility to pay for the removal.
So in Linde's case, and in many other cases from ballroom operators to religious organizations, 16 city staff tore off their signs and tracked the owners, and charge them for the relocation work.
Officials say the law also applies to political candidates who issue election announcements.
Regardless of size, the price of the first logo is $190.
40 removal, which is the amount calculated by the City accountant, they listed two-
Their new van, equipment and staff have time to find the criminals.
Each additional signing fee is $1.
Because the crew is already at work, they have to be removed.
People who use glue to paste signs will be charged $48.
50 for each additional removal as it takes longer to scrape the paper away with a chemical solution. A two-
Crew members wear safety helmets, gloves and goggles to remove up to 300 signs a day.
The work is very dangerous.
Juan Reyes of Arleta, 30, said: "All these nails and nails can come out of you . " He often uses a shovel or crowbar to pry open stubborn nails. in posters.
The workers took a snapshot of the Polaroid camera of the illegal poster as evidence and wrote information such as name, address and phone number on the sign.
This is given to an inspector who will track and charge the owner.
In December 1.
On the bill, the city charged a total of $119,108 for the misconduct of offenders.
Officials hope to charge a fine of more than $600,000 this year to cover the cost of running the project.
So far, only $1,847 has been paid.
Howard said there could be criminal charges of misdemeanor against those who did not pay within 30 days.
Many angry residents claim that they do not know that the law has been introduced and that the first
Lenient treatment of criminals
Of course, saying that the House of Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin Chabad is in North Hollywood and West Los Angeles, the city will not charge his charity for $408, because he posted dozens of "chayim in life" telethon posters in town.
"I was going to attend the hearing and bring in 1,000 posters that we didn't hang because we realized it was illegal," Kunin said . ".
"We are a charity that helps homeless people.
We hope the city is very good for us and free of charge.
City officials said they were kind to some people in the first place. time offenders--
For example, parents of children hanging missing puppy signs and homeowners hanging garage sales signs.
"I sent them a warning letter," said West Valley Inspector John Kessler.
"But if there is a second attack, they will be charged. "But profit-takers beware.
City officials say they have little sympathy for businessmen who use public property for personal gain.
"We are looking for people who post signs for business purposes as part of their business operations," said William E . "
White, Main Street-use inspector.
Mike Graves, a colleague.
Owners of Solar Valley economic electrical and plumbing were charged $388 for promoting about 200 signs of the "plumbers service" throughout the valley.
"The business we got from these signs prevented us from going bankrupt when we started our business in last August," Graves said . ".
"It's a cheap, effective and easy way to let people know that we're out there.
"Since receipt of the bill, Graves has sent workers to remove his remaining signboard.
He said he intended to write off the fees as "the cost of doing business.
"I just hope we get some kind of warning that it's illegal," he said . ".
But for Richard Lind, he is trying to rent out a small house with a few of his hands --
This lesson is even more thought-provoking.
"I know that ignorance of the law is not an excuse," Linde lamented . ".
"But the bill came the day before Christmas.
It seems to be a high cost for my slight offense.