You’ve seen them cluttering busy intersections and freeway exits across Texas - handmade signs promising quick cash for homes, cheap insurance, or miracle weight-loss cures.
Starting September 1, a new state law takes aim at those so-called “bandit signs” with some of the toughest penalties yet.
Under the law, anyone caught posting the illegal signs can face fines of up to $5,000 per violation, and repeat offenders could see penalties stack up fast.
What makes the crackdown different this time is that it doesn’t stop with the person planting the signs in the ground - businesses or individuals profiting from the ads can also be held responsible.
State officials say the goal is twofold: clean up unsightly clutter along Texas roads and hold accountable the companies that fuel the underground sign industry.
Enforcement will fall to local jurisdictions, but the state is making clear that both the messenger and the message-owner are now on the hook.
The law comes after years of complaints from communities across Texas, where residents argue the signs are not just eyesores but can also pose safety risks by distracting drivers. With fines now running into the thousands, officials are hoping the new rules will finally make a dent in the problem.