Wyckoff Loosens Rules Regarding Political Yard Signs

WYCKOFF, N.J. — The Township Committee amended the rules regarding the placement of political signs in town.

Residents may now display temporary political signs as long as they are set back from the edge of the street and do not obstruct people's view of the street or sidewalk. Signs are not allowed on public property or county and state roads.

The changes were proposed in September in response the ACLU threatened legal action against the township.

Violators face a $500 fine.

Town resident Stanley Goodman fought law after he was told by Wyckoff police officers he had to remove political signs from his yard. Police told Stan Goodman's wife June 28 that the signs on the couple's lawn could not be displayed.

"When police come to your door and tell you to take down signs about your beliefs, it intimidates a community into silence," Goodman previously said in a statement.

Goodman challenged the town’s enforcement of the sign ordinance with the ACLU-NJ’s help, and, for a time, the town stopped enforcing it. The ACLU wrote letters to town officials in 2012 and 2016 regarding the ordinance.

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