A few Lubbock drivers on Tuesday said they want a large Michael Bob Starr campaign sign moved away from the street because it blocks the view of on-coming traffic. They said the sign made for dangerous driving conditions.
“That sign is really blocking your view once you get up to the stop sign,” driver Willie Cox said.
Drivers encounter the sign when they drive west on 52nd street and look south onto Slide Avenue.
“You’re not able to see traffic coming because of the sign,” driver Troy Lindsey said. “It blocks nearly two lanes of traffic and my daughter has almost gotten hit twice by pulling out in front of cars.”
Lindsey said the sign is so close to the street that it’s hard to see if cars are coming, especially during the day. He said he’s concerned someone will get hurt.
“You actually have to pull out further into the intersection to actually see if there are cars coming,” Lindsey said.
Lindsey said he called code enforcement on Monday, but the sign hasn’t been moved.
Stuart Walker, the Code Administration Director, said moving campaign signs can be complicated because they are governed by state law.
Walker said complaints about the sign’s placement started about a week ago.
“State law says they [campaign signs] can go anywhere on private property,” Walker said. “It’s when they are placed in the right of way that I can actually do something about them.”
Walker said his office reached out to Starr’s campaign but both sides have been playing phone tag.
While the sign may be considered to be in the right of way, Walker said there’s another problem.
“The bigger signs with the t-posts, we don’t have the tools or the manpower to really pick those up and haul them back,” Walker said.
Walker said if a sign does cause a wreck, someone from that campaign could potentially be held liable.
