Cities in controversy about political signs

At least two Indiana cities have suspended local time limits on political yard signs in the face of lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the ordinances, and a third may choose not to enforce a similar law of its own.\nValparaiso agreed to suspend its ordinance that prohibits residents from posting political signs until 30 days before an election for the remainder of the election year, said City Attorney Dave Hollenback.\nThe northern Indiana city took its action after the Indiana Civil Liberties Union challenged the ordinance in a lawsuit filed this week in U.S. District Court in Hammond. Hollenback said the city plans to negotiate with the ICLU.\nLast week, Noblesville dropped a similar restriction after the ICLU filed a lawsuit in federal court in Indianapolis. Also last week, Lake County officials decided against enforcing its ordinance setting time limits on political signs.\nMeanwhile, Marion's political sign ordinance remains in effect but unenforced, and a city attorney said it likely would not be until constitutional issues are resolved.\n"In my mind, I think there's a constitutional issue there that needs to be sorted out," Mark Spitzer, an attorney who represents Marion, said Tuesday.\nThe ICLU sued Valparaiso and Noblesville after receiving complaints from residents who had been threatened with fines under the local ordinances. ICLU Executive Director Fran Quigley said he had not received any such complaints about Marion's ordinance.\nWhile supporters say such restrictions are intended to minimize yard clutter, critics say the laws unconstitutionally restrain free speech.\nA federal judge on Friday issued a temporary restraining order keeping officials in Grosse Point Woods, Mich., from enforcing a similar ordinance, the Detroit Free Press reported.\nThat law, like Valparaiso's, prohibits residents from posting political signs until 30 days before an election.\nICLU attorney Ken Falk said the civil liberties group still intends to ask a federal judge to strike down Valparaiso's 30-day limit.\nThe ICLU filed the lawsuit on behalf Terri Collins-Novak, 45, a nurse who had placed a sign supporting Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in her yard. City officials told her Friday to take the sign down or risk a $50-a-day fine, the lawsuit alleges.