The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is reminding the public that signs are not permitted within State of Tennessee rights-ofway.

TDOT officials said this includes, but is not limited to, political campaign signs, election signs, real estate signs, business advertisements and other private signage.

TDOT officials said signs placed within any state right-ofway can create safety hazards by obstructing visibility for motorists and roadway workers. Officials said this concern is especially serious at intersections where multiple signs are often placed close together. These signs can block a driver’s line of sight when attempting to pull out onto a roadway, officials said. Drivers in lower-profile vehicles may have even greater difficulty seeing oncoming traffi c, which increases the risk of crashes, according to TDOT offi cials.

Additionally, the state maintains mowing contracts for roadside maintenance and the placement of signs within the right-of-way creates a nuisance and difficulty for crews attempting to safely mow and maintain these areas, according to TDOT officials.

Officials said any sign located within a state rightof- way is subject to removal without notice by transportation personnel. Signs removed due to safety concerns may be stored for a limited time for owner retrieval, officials said.

TDOT officials said citizens, candidates, and businesses are encouraged to place signs only on private property with the property owner’s permission and outside of the state rightof- way. “Thank you for helping keep Tennessee’s roadways safe and properly maintained,” TDOT officials said.

The Lincoln County TDOT Office can be contacted at 931438-1924.