Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) personnel will begin removing political signs from right-of-way areas along state highways, U.S. highways and interstates in southeastern Indiana. Officials say the work begins on Monday.

INDOT says that the signs are against the law and a cause for numerous complaints from residents and drivers. Officials say that political campaign signage is prohibited from federal and state highway rights-of-way, according to state law. They add that the signs clutter roadside areas, distract attention from the road and compromise the safety of drivers. INDOT adds that some signs even create sight-distance obstructions that could cause crashes resulting in injury or death.

INDOT says that right-of-way areas to be cleared of political signage include:

• Interstates and their interchanges
• Intersections where at least one local, state or federal road intersects with a state or federal highway
• All rights-of-way paralleling federal or state highways

INDOT officials say that where right-of-way is not clearly marked, campaigns should estimate that the sign-free area extends from the road to the back of the ditch, to the fence line, or to utility poles.

INDOT adds that candidates may retrieve their signs at local INDOT maintenance facilities between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.