Warmer weather means rummage sale season. Rummage sales, open houses and a host of other events all use signs for publicity. Today the Bismarck Police Department issued this reminder about the lawful use of signs for these events.

Bismarck ordinance prohibits placing any advertising upon any public building, bridge, fence, railing, sidewalk or any other public property. The posting of any sign, handbill, poster or placard upon public boulevards is expressly prohibited.

This means if you are having a rummage sale you can put the sign on your own yard, but no signs on the boulevard, boulevard trees, stop signs, light poles, fire hydrants, traffic signals or any other public property.

Bismarck ordinance also prohibits placing any handbill in or upon any vehicle. This law prohibits you from putting flyers under the windshield wiper of parked cars for example, promoting your event.

Violation of either of these ordinances is a class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and/or 30 days in jail. Promote your events, but please do it legally.

For more information contact Sgt. Mark Buschena, 355-1874.