There's nothing new about public annoyance with illegal roadside signs. But the issue finally seems to have the attention of the County Council.

Earlier this month, County Councilman Ed Reilly drafted a bill to ban signs on utility poles, trees and stoplights, and to clarify rules on advertising signs.

We're not convinced that tweaking existing laws will decrease the number of illegal signs, but we appreciate the effort.

The larger problem: Many signs are on state road rights of way, where the county has no jurisdiction.

State Highway Administration officials say that their maintenance workers remove the signs when...