St. Tammany Parish code enforcement officers have launched a crackdown on illegal snipe signs, hopeful to halt signs sprouting like wildflowers along the corners and medians of major thoroughfares.

Beginning Monday, officers will sweep Louisiana Highway 21 between Madisonville and Covington and gradually move east throughout the summer ticketing violators.

The signs, generally seen in droves during political campaigns, typically advertise businesses and can be seen daily. But under a parish ordinance, it’s illegal to plant the signs in unincorporated areas without a permit, a law many ignore. “We are returning to normal code enforcement duties as storm related work continues to decline,” Parish President Kevin Davis said. “Enforcing sign and litter laws are an important part of maintaining St. Tammany’s beauty and character.”

Code enforcement officers will warn violators and allow them time to obtain proper permits before citations are issued. But those who are negligent may be fined up to $500 per count for a first offense plus pay mandatory court costs.

The signage, however, is not new. After Hurricane Katrina, hundreds of business signs, many of which advertised plumbers, roofers and contractors, were posted on rights of ways and street corners. Parish officials didn’t interfere, hoping the move would jumpstart rebuilding.

But now, more than two years later, the signs are still posted almost everywhere. Owners are either “not aware of the law or, if they are, they feel it’s a risk they were willing to take to get their names out there,” St. Tammany Parish Planning Director Sidney Fontenot said. “But whether its 10 or 100, we need to go out and get them out.”

For Mandeville’s Hew Hamilton, the crackdown couldn’t come soon enough.

Armed with a black can of spray paint, he’s spent the better part of a decade unanimously scrawling “LITTER” across any illegal signs he sees. Lately however, he’s taken pictures, sending the violation photos in near monthly emails to city and parish government.

Nothing seemed to work, he said. The signs, for the most part, have stayed put.

He blames local government for a lackadaisical policing effort.

“Forgive me if I am a bit skeptical, but they didn’t enforce this law (the one requiring a permit for a banner on your own property) before Katrina, so using that as an excuse doesn’t fly,” Hamilton said. “But any enforcement is welcome.”

Hamilton was especially frustrated after documenting the signs for government employees, clearly plastered with a name and phone number for the business it advertised, and not seeing it removed or an owner fined.

“It’s like taking your garbage, driving across the parish and dumping it on the side of the road,” Hamilton said.

In February, parish officials introduced an ordinance ratcheting up fines as much as 500 percent and penalties for litterers, including those with snipe signs.

Fontenot is encouraging businesses with signs to call 898-2529 for more information or to obtain permits. Temporary signs are permitted for 14 days per quarter and must not exceed 32 square feet in size.