Barrie city council is set to address the use of illegal trailer billboards along the Highway 400 corridor.
A recommendation will be put forward during the general committee meeting on Monday night to have the Ministry of Transportation crackdown on the use of illegal signage.
“My concern with these billboards is twofold. One is, I think they are distracting to drivers, but secondly I don't think they serve us very well as a gateway to the city, I don't think it's very attractive," says Barrie Mayor Jeff Lehman.
The recommendation would see council send a letter to the MTO asking them to “immediately enforce its regulations against illegal trailer signage in the Highway 400 corridor and that it provide the Barrie City Council with a date for commencement.”
The signs can be seen along a section of the 400 through parts of Barrie and Innisfil, but not all are illegal. The Highway 400 Market has three on its property and Innisfil bylaw officers haven’t expressed any concern.
"I understand they're not the most attractive thing you see coming into the city, but they are a viable means for a small business to get their name out," says Scott Saunders, general manager of the market.
The market has their billboard on licenced trailers on paved property.
The MTO says they’re only aware of one property where the signs are illegally placed.
“We have been in touch with the property owner and at this time we are seeking voluntary compliance,” says MTO spokesperson Astrid Poei. “Under the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act, the ministry, we do have the authority to remove the signs that don’t comply with our policy.”
According to the MTO, signs within 400 metres of a provincial highway require a permit and cannot promote a product or service that isn’t offered on the property.
“Third-party billboards are not permitted along 400 series highways and only first-party advertisement related to a good or service, sold or provided on the site are permitted.”
The general committee takes place at city hall at 7 p.m.
