Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) will inform business owners with signs on Highway 97 right of way south of Oliver that such structures will have to be removed.

They will be warned in January by letter but the media was charged today with getting the word out now.

Signs will come down in March before the busy traffic season. MOTI is quite concerned with the proliferation of signs blocking vision and distracting drivers. Only signs with permits will be allowed on the right of way. Signs on private land will be governed by the regional district zoning regulations and enforced by bylaw officers.

This is part of a MOTI/RDOS strategy to clean up the highway views. Signs on Federal jurisdiction land/OIB will not be affected.

Letters will go out in January RDOS directors were told today. This is a part of a wider programme on Highway 3, Highway 97 and other rural roads.

Both Director Allan Patton and Mayor Ron Hovanes support this move. 140 signs affected on Road 1 to Road 21 – the first phase. 56% of the signs are in the ROW with 15% on private property. One third need further evaluation.

A landowner has the right to one sign on the land and one sign on a building that relates to the farm/business on the land. Third party signs are not legal.

Owners and those with signs are being asked to find out if they have a illegal sign and then removed it.

Ministry official Jeff Wiseman says the government wants compliance but no heavy hand will be used now. Compliance however is the key idea.

Wiseman says the roadways are polluted with signs. Mayor Stu Wells pointed out two areas south of Oliver that really need attention – with many many signs diverting people’s attention from driving.

He mentioned Road 3 and Road 16 as areas of concern where immediate action should be taken.