Advertisements akin to road signs have been rampant in China. (Photo : www.theodmgroup.com)
Companies have ventured into a form promotion wherein they put up road sign-like advertisement, a strategy strictly prohibited by city authorities.
However, road officials admit that it is challenging to implement such restriction, saying that existing penalties are not hindering firms from putting up official-looking road signs.
So far this year, the Shanghai Road Administration Bureau said that around 2,500 road signs have been removed.
"After spotting a sign, we get in touch with the company featured and demand they remove the sign," bureau official Dong Hui shared.
"If the company fails to do this, we remove the sign," she added.
Penalties levied on violators amount to up to 5,000 yuan under city regulations. But Dong revealed that "if the companies don't admit that they put up the signs, they won't receive any punishment."
Challenge comes when companies, whose signs have been taken down, still put up another one.
"When a sign worth thousands of yuan is taken down, they just make another one, put it up and keep raking in business," Dong noted.
Meanwhile, a manager surnamed Song, affiliated with Qiandu Advertising, admitted that they offer such kind of advertising.
"We make a two-meter by one-meter sign for 25,000 yuan and guarantee that for a year it will always be on display on a lamppost, tree trunk or pole of your choice," he said.
Song, nonetheless, explained that their firm has "the blessing" of urban management officials, which are the ones responsible in monitoring road signs and implementing related rules and regulations.
