(1) Except as provided in Subsection (3) or (5), a person is guilty of a class B misdemeanor if the person knowingly: (a) removes, disposes of, alters, defaces, or otherwise vandalizes a political sign; or (b) attaches or affixes any object to a political sign, including another political sign, and the object: (i) hides, blocks, obscures, or otherwise substantially conceals from view the message or image on the political sign; or (ii) changes or misrepresents the intent of the message on the political sign. (2) A person is guilty of an infraction if the person knowingly attaches or affixes a political sign to a utility pole, light pole, an electric utility box, a traffic control device, or any railroad sign or signal. (3) A person is not guilty of a violation of Subsection (1) if the person who engages in the conduct described in Subsection (1) is: (a) the sign owner; (b) the person who placed the political sign, the person who directed the placement of the political sign, or an agent of either; (c) a property owner of property or of a right-of-way adjacent to property on which the political sign is placed, or the property owner's agent; or (d) a public official or government employee who removes the political sign in accordance with the duties of the public official or government employee. (4) A sign owner that posts or displays a political sign on a roadway shall ensure that the political sign is removed from the roadway no later than 14 calendar days after the day of the election to which the political sign relates. (5) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(a), any person may: (a) in response to another person engaging in the conduct described in Subsection (1)(b), remove the object that is attached or affixed to the political sign; (b) in response to another person engaging in the conduct described in Subsection (2), remove the political sign that is attached or affixed to a utility pole, light pole, an electric utility box, a traffic control device, or any railroad sign or signal; (c) remove a political sign that is posted or displayed on a roadway for longer than the time period described in Subsection (4); or (d) remove a political sign because: (i) (A) the size dimensions of the political sign are equal to or greater than the size dimensions described in Subsection 20A-11-901(4)(a); and (B) the political sign does not contain the disclosure statement described in Subsection 20A-11-901(1) or (2); or (ii) the political sign is posted or displayed in a location that violates the prohibition against electioneering described in Subsection 20A-3a-501(2)(a)(i). (6) A person who removes a political sign under Subsection (3)(d) or (5)(d) shall deposit the political sign at a location described in Subsection 20A-17-104(1). (7) Nothing in this section limits the prosecution or sentencing of a person who, while removing a political sign or an object attached or affixed to a political sign under Subsection (3) or (5), commits an offense under Title 76, Utah Criminal Code.
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