Jarrettsville talks signs, traffic at Wednesday community meeting

Traffic issues and the legality of signs were major topics of discussion at the Jarrettsville Community Council meeting Wednesday.

Capt. Keith Warner with the Harford County Sheriff's Office addressed questions about new texting laws and other traffic issues. He said Oct. 1 texting while driving will become a primary offense, meaning drivers can be stopped specifically for texting while driving. Police ticket for secondary offenses only after making a stop for another issue.

He recounted a recent traffic stop he'd conducted after following a person who was swerving across the road. When he stopped the person, Warner saw the driver was on the phone.

"They're all over the road and that's how a drunk driver looks on the road," Warner said of drivers using cell phones to talk or text.

He also said more and more people are pulling over to talk on the phone.

Sign issues

On the subject of signs, Harford County Planning and zoning officials have been making their rounds to different community councils, providing information about a pilot program that will start Oct. 1.

At Wednesday's meeting, Patricia Gonzalez, with Harford County government gave a brief presentation on behalf of Lynch and the discussion of signs caused a stir.

Gonzalez explained that the county is launching a volunteer program to remove signs from the rights of way at select intersections across the county.

She said the signs have become a traffic hazard by blocking the sight lines of drivers. Warner, of the sheriff's office, agreed that there are areas where high concentration of signs can prove hazardous.

Gonzalez explained that those signs are illegal and asked for volunteers to sign up, follow established guidelines, and remove those signs on a somewhat regular basis.

She said the volunteer program will coincide with a state program that will involve removing signs and a fine for those who violate.

The county is not imposing a fine at this time, although the sign law has been in existence for some time.

Some members of the community voiced concerns about signs on private property and other places.

Gonzalez said it is legal for a church to put a temporary sign on its own property advertising an event at that church, but another person could not put a sign for that event on their property.

Gonzalez went on to say if a person is selling a house, it is legal to put that sign in their yard, but if a real estate company posts that sign, they are advertising on another person's property and that is not legal.

She clarified that at this time, the program is only designed to clear signs at certain intersections in the county.

She also said voting and election signs fall under a different rule.

"This is not new, it's always been that way," Gonzalez said of the law.

Bits and pieces

Also at the Jarrettsville community meeting:

o Boy scout troop 809 presented information on scouting and two Eagle projects that are in progress.

o Capt. Warner said crime is down across the country and the county.

o Council member Richard Russell gave a brief update on schools and said Jarrettsville, Norrisville and North Bend Elementary Schools did not receive the drastic influx feared during the redistricting process.

"I was glad to see Jarrettsville did not receive the 120 they were supposed to receive," Russell said.

o Council chair person David Seman said he does not endorse "PlanMaryland," a statewide comprehensive plan for development that is in a comment period, because he feels it takes away the county's ability to govern itself. He added his views are his own, not any other government's.