RICHLAND, Wash. -- You know Election Day is just around corner by the signs in people's yards. But Meredith and Bill Farris of North Richland had to replace their original "Romney-Ryan" sign after the first one was yanked last month.
"It's just disrespectful to everybody. I go by signs every day that I don't agree with the point of view or the candidate. But I do believe in people's right to display the sign, and it's more important," says Meredith Farris.
It's a problem, Republicans in Benton and Franklin County say is going from bad to worse. "The other night in Pasco, we had about 50 signs taken. We had probably 30 or 40 in Richland and Kennewick," says Dave Hedengren, the Chair for Benton County Republicans, and the 4th Congressional District Delegate.
Benton and Franklin County Democrats are also getting calls for missing signs. Not just President Obama's, but Jay Inslee's and even Jay Clough's. "We've had a number of signs taken in North Richland and Kennewick. About 13-15," says Clough.
Police say removing signs from people's yards or destroying them is illegal. considered a misdemeanor in the state of Washington. It is punishable up to 90 days in jail or a fine of a $1,000.
Police can even classify taking a sign as third degree theft, which is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by 364 days in jail and a fine of $5,000. But for Meredith Farris, who became a US Citizen ten years ago, its about respect. ""When people take signs out of each other's yards or yell at each other or call each other stupid because of different beliefs, they disrespect everything I've raised my hand for and I believe," she says.
