Since we are now in the midst of yet another election – the recalls – campaign ads are already running on television, even before the needed signatures are obtained by those collecting them.
Assuming the minimum of 540,000 signatures will be met, the full-fledged campaign will follow, with the actual election in the spring of 2012.
Therefore, I feel it is timely to reiterate the law on campaign signs. Defacing or stealing political campaign signs is against the law. Under Wisconsin State Statute 943-01, anyone damaging a campaign sign can be prosecuted, and under Wisconsin State Statute 943-20(1), anyone stealing such a sign can be prosecuted. Both of these statutes are Class A misdemeanors. Those arrested can be fined up to $10,000., and sentenced to nine months in jail.
Anyone who witnesses such activity should call the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department at 715-258-4466, or the local police department in the city where the act is committed.
To be sure, Waupaca County suffered a lot of campaign sign damage and theft during the last recall election, and the law on this activity once again needs to be made known to all who commit such dastardly acts.