charging for signs on private property?

Amber · #1 02-17-2003, 01:24 AM

I received a letter last week from city hall stating that all businesses will have to pay a standard fee for signs on their own property ranging from DR$2,000- $4,000. Is this legal?
I can understand that they may want to charge for cruza calles, regardless of their placement, and advertisements posted outside of immediate area of the businesses. But to charge for a sign sitting on top of the actual building? Isn’t that considered to be private property?
I really need to know since a large group of business owners met outside the chamber of commerce to discuss the issue and no one was sure about the legality of the measure taken by city hall, but all said they would not pay it.
Amber

Eddy · #2 02-17-2003, 02:16 AM

I have a Presidente sign with my business name (Installed free by Presidente) on my property and have had to pay RD$1200.00 per year since it was installed. Also any other signs with your business name on it are subject to $$$. If you can beat it, please let me know.

Amber · #3 02-17-2003, 02:20 AM

If I can find a legal basis to do so, I am fighting it.

Eddy · #4 02-17-2003, 02:33 AM

Buena Suerte. Keep me informed.

ozno · #5 02-17-2003, 10:59 PM

heloo
i have sign om ,y stors for 10 years and i pay city hall all this time and yes they have the riet to colect it the only whay they cant make you pay is if your sign is in a mall
thanks ozno

Amber · #6 02-18-2003, 12:35 AM

So city hall has the legal right to charge a fee for signs posted on private property... Where does it say they have the right to do so? Forgive me, but I am very suspicious of how the law is handled here. There ae things done which have no legal basis. Take the destruction of the rice seeds for instance. Isn't it ilegal for a DEMOCRATIC govt. to dictate which cops to grow? Isn't it unconstitutional to bann a song because it speaks badly about the gvt? So, I want to SEE where this LAW is written before I pay.

Eddy · #7 02-18-2003, 10:54 AM

Amber, I think they are municipal by-laws that differ from each Municipality and are applied to the whim of each. Some town won't bother with it others will. You would have to go to City Hall and ask them to show you the Law. If they don't have one they will probably pass one. LOL

Amber · #8 02-18-2003, 01:50 PM

Eddy, I hate to admit it, but they would do just that.. But since I know the sindico, the governor and the DA personally, I'm gonna make them show it to me...

Amber

Fabio J. Guzman · #9 02-22-2003, 07:21 PM

Art. 31, Section 60a of Law #3455 of 1952 grants the municipalities the right to establish municipal taxes. Many municipalities levy taxes on signs, without taking into account whether the sign is on private property or public property.

For the complete text of Law #3455, go to:

http://www.iadb.org/rdm/documents/LEY3455.PDF

Eddy · #10 02-23-2003, 02:07 AM

Nice to have all those contacts but why waste them on a few $$ over a sign. Hopefully your money will be used to improve something within the municipality. At least you can dream that it will.