The Stearns County Highway Department wants to remind property owners that it is illegal to place campaign signs in highway rights of way.

The Highway Department adds it is also illegal to place signs or objects on private property without the land owner’s approval.

Officials will remove any unlawful signs and store them in one of the county’s local maintenance garages. Sign owners will have ten days to pick them up before they are thrown away.

The penalty for breaking this law is a misdemeanor. However, more serious penalties may apply if the sign is involved in an accident or injures someone.