The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is reminding Hoosiers that campaign signs are prohibited from federal and state highway rights-of-way by Indiana Code 9-21-4-6.

INDOT personnel are empowered by state law to remove unauthorized signs, including real estate, advertising, and political signage within the state right-of-way. The right-of-way areas which must remain “sign free” for the safety of the motoring public include the following:

•All interstates and their interchanges.

•All intersections where at least one local, state or federal road intersects with a state or federal highway

•All rights-of-way paralleling federal or state highways (the right-of-way extends to the back of the ditch, to the fence line or up to utility poles). INDOT crews will not pull signs placed behind the ditch, fence line or beyond the public utility poles.

Removed signs will be saved at the nearest INDOT Subdistrict office. Candidates may reclaim signs between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for holidays at the following locations:

•LaPorte Subdistrict, 315 Boyd Boulevard, LaPorte.

•Gary Subdistrict, 7601 Melton Road, Gary

The public or candidates can also call INDOT toll-free at (855) GO-INDOT, or (855) 464-6368.

Posted 10/1/2012