Mayoral candidates breaking law with lighted billboard signs
Windsor's top mayoral candidates are all technically violating a city bylaw by posting campaign signs on lighted billboards.
There is no maximum size for election signs but illuminating — or lighting a sign — is not permitted.
Building inspector Bill Jean tells CBC News the intent of the bylaw is to keep people from annoying the neighbours by shining spotlights at signs on lawns.
Jean says billboards are a different issue.
"People use them for various reasons: advertising, retailing or even, in this case, election signs," Jean said. "We probably would not do any enforcement on it if somebody were to complain. I doubt very much a complaint would take place."
Mayoral contenders John Millson, Drew Dilkens and Larry Horwitz all have large, lit billboard signs across the city. Some city council candidates do too.
Millson, Dilkens and Horwitz all told CBC News they had no idea illuminated billboards were technically against the law. None was immediately available for an interview.
Mayoral candidate Robin Easterbrook had been using billboards, too. He spent $2,100 on three.
"It was a matter of trying cover as much of the city as possible. They’re big and in your face," he said.
Jean says the city may look at "tightening" the bylaw in the future.
"It does seem to imply that you can't illuminate billboards for election purposes, and that's something I think we should go back and look at," he said.
