What penalties can someone face if they’re caught stealing political signs in Missouri?
A Missouri woman who had her political signs stolen four times from her yard decided to take matters into her own hands to find out who was stealing them.
Laura McCaskill, who lives in Springfield, attached an Apple AirTag to the next yard sign to see where it would go if the sign was stolen again. On Friday, Oct. 18, the sign was stolen and using the tracking device, it led McCaskill and her partner to an encounter with the alleged culprit outside a home in the neighboring town of Nixa. The alleged thief had 59 signs in his truck, McCaskill told OzarksFirst.com.
A video of the encounter was posted on Facebook and McCaskill can be heard telling the culprit that he’s committed a felony. She says the signs are about $20 a piece. That would put the total value of the signs north of $1,000.
Is it true that it’s a felony to steal political signs from someone’s yard in Missouri? Here’s what the law says.
Is it illegal to steal political signs from Missouri homes?
McCaskill is right. It’s a felony to steal political signs from someone’s home in Missouri. The act is classified as a class four election offense, according to a Missouri statute.
The statute says that along with stealing political signs, “willfully defacing, mutilating or destroying any campaign yard sign on private property” is against the law.
The statute says the offense is a misdemeanor, and a conviction can lead to a fine of up to $2,500, imprisonment for up to a year or both.
You are advised to report any stolen items to your local police departments.
Homeowners’ associations in Missouri are also not allowed to prevent homeowners in the group from placing political signs on their yard, according to Missouri law. But they can remove them if the sign:
Is placed within the common ground
Threatens the public health or safety
Violates an applicable statute or ordinance
Is accompanied by sound or music
Or if any other materials are attached to the political sign.
A homeowners’ association can remove signs or hand out fines for these reasons after they’ve given the home owner a three-day’s written notice that says what rule was broken.
Any homeowners’ association in Missouri does have the authority to adopt reasonable rules regarding the time, size, place, number and manner of display of political sign, as long as the rules are subject to any applicable statutes or ordinances.
