A.G. Gancarski
A much-discussed bill to increase penalties for snipe signs has cleared committees and was expected to pass the full Jacksonville City Council on Monday, which could end, at least for now, one of the most interminable debate topics this council has faced.
Councilman John Crescimbeni explained the bill, which would increase fines while allowing protection for informational signs from governmental entities.
Crescimbeni pointed out that the bill is about “support [of] combating illegal snipe signs” en masse, and that objection to snipe signs couldn’t be filtered, according to the U.S. Constitution, according to content.
Councilman Doyle Carter stood in opposition, pointing out that a “couple selling its baby stuff” or a “little granny selling honey on the corner” merits his support, along with youth groups and other innocuous entities.
Councilman Tommy Hazouri fretted about the “lack of enforcement” of existing law.
“Something’s wrong,” Hazouri said, with the lax code enforcement people.
Councilman Bill Gulliford then proposed a debate on how to use the fine revenue.
“Where do you draw the line?”
“I support the bill,” Gulliford said, but wanted the money “dedicated to education and enforcement.”
Councilman Reggie Brown fretted about how that would affect “campaign signs,” before talking about miscreants “moving his signs to other areas.”
“What I don’t want to do is create a process that will impact the little leagues and the mom and pops,” or his future campaign, “or bake sales,” “or car washes.”
NICE Committee Chair Garrett Dennis proposed a friendly amendment to lower the fine on the first five signs, to help out the mom and pops who apparently are addicted to laying snipe signs down.
Then Brown proposed that the first offense should be handled with a warning.
“Until that learned behavior sets in,” Brown said, a warning would be the best way to go.
Hazouri rejected that logic, wanting the city to clamp down on such litter.
From there, Crescimbeni, then Councilman Scott Wilson, asked detailed questions about enforcement.
The amendment fell 15-4, putting them back on the original bill as nuns in the back of the audience prayed someone would call the question.
Councilman Reggie Gaffney proposed a compromise, “rewriting the bill” to allow a 15-day grace period before citation.
“You’ve got some legit organizations out there,” he said, that might need the signs.
Another period of inquiry revolved around figuring out how much snipe sign revenue is collected per year.
The number was not immediately available.
The bill passed 14-5.
