Dear Mahatma: How do real estate firms get away with putting open-house signs in the public right-of-way? I see them on sidewalks and even in the street. The city says it's not legal. Real estate people say they have a right to put the signs there. What's the answer? -- LR Resident
Dear Resident: All we know is what the city code says and what we're told by Ronny Loe of the city's Department of Public Works. We are fixin' to convey both.
Stick with us on Sec. 36-560, "Signs prohibited in city right-of-way or on city property," which is extensive.
Thou shall not put a sign on city property or right-of-way unless ...
The sign provides directions to a specific public location or public facility, or ...
The sign identifies a specific public location such as the name of a neighborhood, or the identification of a public structure, and ...
The city has "expressly enacted a franchise for the placement of the sign," or ...
The sign is on public property under lease, and the lease includes an agreement to permit the sign's placement.
Any sign that fails to meet these provisions "shall be subject to immediate removal by the city."
Loe reiterated the ordinance. Any sign that fits the description given by our reader, if such a sign were found, would be subject to removal.
Dear All-Knowing Mahatma: I travel Interstate 40 daily and have seen multiple vehicles broken down on the side of the road. Usually, the vehicle is gone within a day. Sometimes not. What's a reasonable amount of time for a state trooper to call a tow truck to remove this hazard? -- Concerned
Dear Concerned: We, too, are concerned. When we're concerned about matters regarding the Arkansas State Police, we get in touch with Bill Sadler, who speaks for the agency. He says:
Abandoned vehicles tagged by state troopers along U.S. and state highways must be moved within 72 hours or a towing order will be issued. If an abandoned vehicle is closer than 3 feet from the highway, it may be towed pronto.
Sadler adds that any motorist who sees an abandoned vehicle may call the nearest troop headquarters.
This a good time to remind folks to find the number of the nearest troop headquarters and put it into their cellphones. Also the local county sheriff's office phone number. That is, for people who have a cellphone. Not everyone does.
Dear Mahatma: Do motorcycles have different parking laws? I see motorcycles parked on sidewalks in front of tattoo parlors and low-rent bars. Can they legally park there? -- Dodge the Harley
Dear Dodge: We, too, have friends in low places, where the ... oops. Channeling Garth Brooks.
The code of the great city of Little Rock includes Sec. 32-309. It says no person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in a whole lot of places. Including sidewalks.
The number to call is 311, the city's nonemergency line.
Mahatma@arkansasonline.com
Metro on 10/25/2014