Why you could be prosecuted if you remove or steal a campaign lawn sign

With the election less than two weeks away, you may have noticed an abundance of political campaign signs popping up on lawns across the country. Sometimes these signs can be a point of contention between neighbors. In extreme cases, theft, vandalism and trespassing occur.

After her campaign signs for presidential candidate Kamala Harris were stolen multiple times, a Springfield, Missouri woman decided to take matters into her own hands and find out what happened to them. She placed an Apple AirTag in her newest shield, and after it was stolen, the tracker led her to a trunk full of AirTags.

Laura McCaskill posted a video of the confrontation on Facebook. When the suspected thief opened his trunk, he found nearly 60 signs from the surrounding neighborhood.

“I’m sorry, that’s funny. “Why don’t you just take them all?” said the alleged thief’s mother in the video as she threw the signs to the ground. “Please, liberals.”

“It’s a crime, ma’am,” McCaskill replied.

Under Missouri law, “stealing or intentionally defacing, mutilating, or destroying a campaign sign on private property” is considered a Class 4 election offense. These offenses are considered misdemeanors and are punishable by a fine of up to $2,500 and/or a prison sentence of be punished for up to one year.

McCaskill has decided to press charges and an investigation is underway, according to a subsequent Facebook post on Oct. 23.

Here’s what you should know about political sign theft.

Why is it illegal?

The expression of political beliefs is protected by the First Amendment. This includes posting signs in yards and windows on private property. In 1994, the Supreme Court struck down a local ordinance in Ladue, Missouri, that prohibited residents from publicly displaying signs with political messages.

Entering private property to steal, damage or otherwise destroy a sign also carries additional criminal penalties.

What are the penalties?

Each state has its own laws and penalties for theft and vandalism, but most states consider tampering with a political sign a misdemeanor.

According to Cornell Law School, a misdemeanor is typically punishable by up to 12 months in prison. Other penalties include fines, community service and imprisonment for less than one year.

Depending on the state, this crime can also become a felony if the value of the damaged or stolen property exceeds a certain amount. In Missouri, it is a Class D felony if the property value exceeds $750.

What should you do if your garden sign is stolen?

If a sign is stolen, it is recommended that you contact the local police emergency number to report the incident. To facilitate the investigation, consider installing an outdoor security camera or doorbell to help identify the people and vehicles involved.

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How should you dispose of lawn signs at the end of the election?

Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics in Bennington, Vermont, told TODAY that nearly 90% of political signs are made from plastic-coated corrugated cardboard. Because of the variety of materials, including plastic, campaign signs are nearly impossible to recycle. It is not recommended to throw them in the regular trash; However, some municipalities are now holding special collection days for election signs in order to properly recycle them.

If your city does not offer recycling options, consider saving the signs until the next election cycle. Add a plastic or paper sleeve to reuse or paint a new message over it.

Some campaigns may reuse campaign signs in the future. Contact the campaign office that issued the sign to see if it will be repurposed or recycled.