Has someone left an abandoned vehicle on your parking lot? What can you do if someone parks on your property and then dines at a restaurant across the street? Can you tow a vehicle from a handicap parking spot if they just run in for a few minutes? What happens if they show up while their vehicle is being towed?

The laws for towing vehicles from your private property are different than towing a vehicle from a public street. Stiff fines can be imposed if you illegally remove a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent. Much worse, you may have an ugly confrontation.

Sign laws vary slightly from state to state but are generally the same throughout the country. But it is always best to contact the local police authority for the exact rules as our research has found conflicts in the sign requirements from neighboring municipalities.

First, determine if you are subject to signage requirements. A residential homeowner of four units or less is not typically required to post towing notices to have a vehicle removed that is blocking their driveway. Could you imagine what it would look like if every suburban home had a no parking sign in their driveway?

If you are a property manager of an office building, shopping center, apartment complex or condominium community then you will need to conspicuously post No Parking Signs that your area is subject to tow away.

The sign must be prominently placed at each vehicular entrance to the property which can easily be seen by the public. You want the motorist to be informed upfront, usually within 5 feet from the public right-of-way; don’t hide the signs in the back of the parking lot. If your parking lot does not have a curb cut entrance, then a sign must be posted every 25 feet apart along the frontage.

The size of the sign varies but typically it should be not less than 18 inch x 24 inch. The State of New Jersey has just passed a law that requires the sign to be 36 inch x 36 inch in some cases. You will want the sign to be installed at eye level of the motorist. The tow away sign should be installed so that the bottom edge of the sign is no lower than five feet and no higher than eight feet above ground level.

Some states have rules that the sign must be continuously maintained which means the lettering cannot have faded. You will want to use a weather resistant material like sign grade aluminum. It is a .080 inch thick alloy that is long lasting and rust free even in harsh weather extremes.

The sign lettering must be large enough to be readable. Some states go as far as specifying the height of the letters ranging from 1 inch to 4 inch. A 1 inch sign letter is readable from 50 feet away and a 4 inch letter is readable from 200 feet away. Most states specify that the sign lettering must be on a contrasting background.

Your sign should be reflective so it is visible at night or dimly lit environments.

Your Tow Away Sign must state who is entitled to park in the area, for example, Customer Parking Only, Employee Parking Only or Resident Parking Only. The parking sign must state that the area is subject to tow away, this can be done by using the international tow away symbol which is a graphic of a car on a tow truck’s hook. The sign must state that violators will be towed at vehicle owner’s expense and the towing and storage rates. The sign must provide the name and telephone number of the towing company where they can reclaim their vehicle. Reference the State’s Vehicle Code that authorizes you to tow away, for example, CVC 22658.

There are exceptions to tow away sign requirements. Unregistered or abandoned vehicles can be towed away without notice. Cars parked in a designated handicap parking spot can be towed away immediately. Cars parked in a Fire Lane, blocking the free flow of traffic, or blocking a driveway can be towed without the vehicle owner’s consent. And obviously, you can never tow away police, firefighting, rescue squad, ambulance, or other emergency vehicles.

Sign letters must fit snug into the sign track or they will fall out.

Marquee signs are used for community centers, theaters, church signs, school signs, business signs and sidewalk signs. Marquee signs display messages with changeable letters that typically slide into grooved tracking. Each changeable letter is screen printed onto plastic and is available in different sizes, gauges and styles.  Select the right size letters for your marquee or your message could end up going completely wrong!

It is very important for sign letters to fit snug into the sign track or they will fall out or blow away.  Panel height and thickness are the most significant characteristics to ensure the letters slide and fit properly onto your marquee sign.  I can’t stress enough how important it is that you measure the panel height and panel thickness.

Here is what you need to measure:

1. Panel Height
2. Character Height
3. Width Ratio
4. Panel Thickness

Panel Height – The panel height is the outside measurement of the plastic from its top to bottom.

Character Height – The character height is the measurement of the printed character on the plastic panel. Measure from the top of the character to its bottom.  Do not include any margins or brand markings in the measurement.

Width Ratio – The width ratio is helpful to determine the font style. Some letter styles are condensed so you can fit more characters on a line. Other letter styles are wider so they are easier to read. Each font style has its own width ratio. The ratio is the proportion of the character’s width (measured from left to right) to its height (measured from top to bottom.) It will make more sense to measure an ‘N’ or ‘R, not a ‘W’ or “I’. The width ratio is expressed as a proportion such as 3:5 or 1:1.

Panel Thickness – There are three main sizes when it comes to the thickness of your changeable letters; 1/32” (30 mil), 1/16” (60 mil), and 1/12” (80 mil). These are more commonly known as flexible, semi-rigid and rigid. 30 mil is about the thickness of a playing card and can be bent over from head to toe without breaking. 80 mil is a thick, rigid letter that has very little flexibility to it. The 60 mil is in between and is semi-rigid.

Changeable letters fit into a track. There are two basic styles; tracking for thin letters and tracking for thick letters.  Marquee signs tracked for thin letters can only use 30 mil sign letters. Marquee signs tracked for thick letters can use 80 mil or 60 mil sign letters but not the 30 mil sign letters.

Communicating your letter requirements to a manufacture is just as important as knowing which dimensions to measure so your order is delivered mistake free. Describe your letter requirements with a manufacturer using the measurements because each manufacturer has different naming conventions.

When building an outdoor bulletin board for your school bulletin board, church, community bulletin board or homeowner’s association these ten simple features will make your message center more usable, project a professional image, and most importantly, provide long-lasting, easy maintenance.

Larry Kontny, Secretary Treasurer of the Magnolia Terrace Homeowner Association in Mont Verde, Florida, made the mistake of purchasing a poor quality bulletin board last year.

“The back rotted out of the first bulletin board we purchased”, said Kontny, “and water got inside, and of course, the water and the humidity ruined all the letters.”

Water and humidity is a major concern for folks who live in this community of 130 home sites about 20 miles west of Orlando.

“Anyone who has lived in Florida knows of the heavy thunderstorms during the rainy season. This new one I just installed is much better constructed, and the frame is much stronger than the earlier one we purchased.”

1.    Use an anodized aluminum frame that has a moisture barrier backing and silicone sealant.

“The first board we purchased had a particle board backing that sucked the water up like a sieve”, said Kotney. “The letter board warped and became spongy.”

2.    Shatter-resistant door windows prevent injury and liability. Vandalism or kicked up stones from a passing truck can cause a cheap window to break.

Do not use glass, safety glass, or acrylic for the door window. Use a polycarbonate brand like Lexan or Makrolon SL.

3.    Make sure that your door windows and posting surface have a UV inhibitor which cuts down on the destructive effects from sun rays.  Some automotive part stores sell clear UV glass tinting film that can be applied to the window.
“The sun rays caused the enclosed cabinet to heat up like an oven.  The board facing the southern exposure faded in months and some of the letters melted and got brittle”, said Kotney. “We’re going to have to replace that one too.”

4.    Louvered vent caps should be installed on the cabinet’s sides to dissipate any heat build up or ambient humidity. The vent caps should be screened to prevent insects like spiders or wasps from entering the bulletin board cabinet and nesting.
A louvered vent also stops condensation from fogging up the door window by preventing a temperature differential.

5.    Lockable doors secure access to the posting surface so postings are official.
“One morning I came out to find some kids had rearranged the letters to spell a profane message.” said Thomas Keane, past president of the Limestone Acres homeowners association in Wilmington, Delaware. “The neighborhood association was not amused.”

6.    The door frame should have full length piano hinges to support the weight of the door when opened. Using just a couple of small hinges will wear out quickly and fatigue the aluminum case frame.

7.    The door frame should have a rubber gasket seal to prevent vertical rain from seeping through the gap.
A tight door frame is important especially for residents on coastal areas that experience strong vertical winds .

8.    The cabinet should be at least 3-1/4” depth. This allows room to add an extra letter panel, chalk board, dry erase board or bulletin board.
These extra types of panels make your community message center very versatile and allows creativity for holidays or different occasions.

9.    A name header can be included on the display cabinet or sign pediment. A name header provides identity and recognition for the community bulletin board.

10.     Make sure the cabinet comes with a one year manufacture’s guarantee. Any problems due to improper materials or assembly are going to happen during the first year’s exposure to the elements.

Kontny says he appreciates his new bulletin board that was supplied by a reputable manufacturer free of charge. “I like it, they didn’t have to do it”, says Kontny of his new bulletin board. “In fact, we will be replacing another one soon, which has been destroyed by the sun’s rays, and I’ll be getting another one just like this because it’s easy to maintain.”

If you are looking for bulletin board ideas, search for the school bulletin board sites.  They have ideas on how to decorate the cork bulletin boards but not the directory letter boards or the electric bulletin boards.

RIDING THE RIDGE IN VIRGINIA……It’s a late afternoon in December; the sky the color of slate. A man and woman, both in their 70’s are driving home to Minnesota, taking the scenic route through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Although in their seventh decade, the couple wouldn’t entertain of any other means of transportation.

Jim Weinel still drives everywhere he goes.  He’s put 465 miles on the car today. He’s heading home after days on the road; beginning in Atlantic City, for the annual USSC Sign World convention, then down to Virginia to visit two of his eighteen manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada, rounding out the trip driving over the Blue Ridge Mountains, stopping for gas near Cincinnati, and on home to Minnesota.

Sharon, Jim’s wife of 52 years is by his side; she’s always been by his side. They go everywhere together; she is his business partner, as well as his heart.

They are getting older now, but age and time has not slowed Mr. and Mrs. James R. Weinel. They are as vital today as they were back in the early sixties, when, with start-up cash of $150 they rented 400 square feet of space in a garage, and together began what is now the colossus of the sign industry; Gemini Inc., in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, producers of the largest line of dimensional letters in the world.

Jim and Sharon are the very embodiment of the American dream. Two people from the heartland, who took a chance on themselves, and with hard work and determination, became rich beyond their wildest dreams. In a phone interview, conducted while Jim drives over the mountains towards home, he candidly reminisces about his early years as a kid in Randolph, Minn, population 250.

“Sure, I remember my first job, I was 8 years old, and I began to clean out the barn, and mow lawns. Randolph was a railroad town. My dad was a railroader. My parents taught me the value of hard work,“And Sharon was a farm girl from Howard, South Dakota, so she was even tougher than me”.

Jim says hard work with attention to detail, and a commitment to a quality product at a fair price, delivered to the customer as quickly as possible is the guiding principle of his multimillion-dollar business.

Jim and Sharon recently donated a $2 million gift to the University of Cincinnati to establish the James S. Womack/Gemini Chair of Signage and Visual Marketing.  That money did not fall off the trees. It came from a man who started and failed at several businesses before he established Gemini.

“I sold honey off the back of my truck”, he recalls, “and had several other flops before I met Tom Limborg, an itinerant sign painter. I was selling sign letters out of the back of my car at that time, and he asked me to form some letters for him. I did, using the same material we use today, cellulose acetate. “I always wanted a successful business, and I figured letter making could be it…When we began, Sharon and I would travel together, and she would head to the town library to look up mailing lists while I made sales calls”.

“Sharon is the very heart of the business, the rock of the company”, said Dick Develin, Mid Atlantic sales manager for Gemini. “She has been actively involved in the production of the Gemini catalog.“And Jim is one of the most decent businessmen you could ever meet. His customers are always happy with the service.”

Jim and Sharon met in Minneapolis and were married in 1956. They have three children- 2 daughters and 1 son, and 11 grandchildren. Jim graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1956. After a brief active duty in the Army, he and Sharon settled in Minnesota.

He worked in aerospace engineering for five years, until he decided to form a company of his own. And that’s when the good old American entrepreneurial spirit kicked in. With nothing more than his car and a dream, he set out to sell sign letters; a strange departure from a civil engineer in the aerospace industry.

In 1964, he had the opportunity to purchase a small company in Minneapolis where he began making letters for the sign industry. They grew and expanded into a major industry making plastic sign letters, aluminum sign letters, changeable sign letters, cast metal sign letters, and bronze plaques.

Philanthropy has been a significant part of their professional and personal lives. In 2006, they established the Don Osell Chair of Sales and Marketing for Engineers at the University of Minnesota. They also established a corporation to reach out to high school students in cities where Gemini has plant operations. The Ross Wagner Scholarship Program for Engineers awards educational grants to high school students who have selected engineering as a career.

Jim Weinel, now 74, has no regrets about his life. “I’m looking forward the next product,” he jokes, “I never look backward, always forward.

And oh, yes, he says, there is a fellow who is writing a book about how to make it big on practically nothing…Jim is in the book. Naturally.

Sidewalk signs are movable signs supported by their own frame and most often formed in the cross-sectional shape of an A. A sidewalk sign can be a very effective form of outdoor advertising for small businesses, particularly in high-traffic areas, if your message attracts the right attention.

You need to keep your sidewalk sign simple to be effective. You only have seven lines of four inch letters on a typical sidewalk sign, and research has shown that you have typically less than 3 seconds for a potential customer to read your message.

1.    Focus on what your customer wants. Place your key benefit at the top of the sidewalk sign, preferably the top two lines. A supporting message can be placed below but most likely won’t be read at first glance. Emphasize what makes your store unique compared to your competitors. Do you offer a lower price, better selection, free trials?

2.    Increase readership by displaying your sidewalk sign consistently and rotating its message. People are creatures of habit and drive the same route each day. Use this opportunity to build readership. Bring your sidewalk sign out each morning and change its message every 3-4 days.

3.    An old adage in the billboard industry is to keep it under seven words. If your message is longer, break it down to several messages and display it on your sidewalk sign over a few days.

4.    Use a positive voice with action verbs in your message. Your sidewalk signs message has to be clear to your readers. If your message is confusing, your readers won’t stop and ask for clarification, they’ll go somewhere else.

5.    Keep your sign clean. Your sign is your first impression. Make it a good one. Replace broken or missing letters. A little Windex goes a long way!

6.    Treat your readers as neighbors by occasionally displaying on your sidewalk sign community announcements, holiday celebrations, or charitable events.

7.    Repeat any newspaper, radio or direct mail advertisements on your sidewalk sign.

To write attention grabbing sidewalk signs you need to keep it simple and consistent. Plan different messages, cut them to seven words and consistently display your sidewalk sign each day.

There are many types of sidewalk signs like a-frame sidewalk signs, springer sidewalks signs, chalk board sidewalk signs, swinger sidewalk signs, plasticade sidewalk signs and dry erase sidewalk signs. The nice feature is that they are portable sidewalk signs or they are able to folding sidewalk signs.

The first thing you should notice when you have received your interlocking stencils is how quickly it was delivered. Most orders ship within one business day and we email you the tracking number so you can anticipate the delivery.

Carefully unpack the carton and make sure all the contents are included. Contact us if you are missing any items. The number kit contains two of each digit 0 – 9 and two end pieces.

As you are inspecting the contents please notice that one face of the stencil has a shiny finish and the other face has a matte finish. The shiny face goes up.

Shiny Face Up.

Flange to the right.

Also notice each piece has an inset cut on one side and a flange cut on the other side. The flange goes on the right side.

So make sure to have the shiny side up and the flange on the right. The inset should hook and overlap the flange. The baseline will now be aligned correctly.

We sometimes describe the interlocking design works like a ‘jigsaw puzzle.’ Jigsaw is not the best word, hook and overlap would better describe the process.

Here is a picture of the wrong way to assemble the interlocking stencil.

There are some numbers that create common mistakes because of their symmetrical design; 0 1 6 8 and 9. Always make sure that the shiny side is up and the flange is to the right.

The stencil is made of Low Density Polyethylene. It is a non-hazardous, very flexible, extremely tough non-porous plastic. Paint (after build-up) will peel off quite easily. Do not use thinners or solvents to clean the product. If using water based paint, stencils are easy to clean by washing wet paint off immediately after use.

When properly assembled, pieces will overlap slightly. This allows stencil to be moved as one piece and prevents paint from leaking between pieces.

We ship all our stencils rolled up in boxes to save you on shipping costs. However, because this material is so soft and flexible, it will tend to stay curled up for a while after removing from the box. For best results, unpackage all stencils as soon as you receive your shipment. Lay stencils curve face down on a hard surface in the sun (if possible) for a couple of hours. This will generally warm the plastic up and allow it to return to its original shape. Rolling the stencil up in the opposite direction of the curve will also help. After use, store stencil flat or hang at normal room temperature. Be very careful if you must use or store your stencils in cold weather (45 degrees or colder); the plastic becomes brittle and break.

Congratulations on your purchase of the Swinger Sidewalk Sign, a revolutionary method to get your message out on the streets. The traditional A frame sign’s design created a pocket for the wind to blow it over. The Swinger Sidewalk sign is more stable because a slight breeze will gently rock the sign face in its cradle. In fact, the swinging motion generates more attention to your message sign.

The first thing you’ll notice with the purchase of you Swinger Sidewalk sign is how quick it was delivered. Most orders placed by 2PM EST will ship the same afternoon.

Inspect your package when it arrives for any damage or missing items. Call us 1-800-582-6366 if there is an exception to the order.

Here is a parts list of what the package contains:

• 1ea- Corrugated 24” Sign Face
• 2ea- Uprights
• 2ea- Cross Tubes
• 4ea- Anti-Slip Feet
• 4ea- Cross Tube Insert
• 4ea- Truss Head Bolt
• 1ea- Threaded Cross Rod
• 2ea- Knob Bushing
• 2ea- U-Channel
• 2ea- Knobs
• 1ea- Instructions

1. The first step is to install each of the four Anti-Slip Feet into each of the four holes on bottom of uprights. Press the drive pin down completely to lock in hole.



2. Step two is to attach the two Cross Tubes to the two uprights using the Cross Tube Inserts (small bushings) and Truss Head Bolts. Place the Cross Tube Insert into the Cross Tube with the small end in first. Then slide the Cross Tube into the deep recess of each Upright. You may have to push hard to make sure it fits tight. Then insert Truss Head Bolt and tighten. Repeat for the other Cross Tube.



3. The third step is to measure 13-1/2” down from top of sign face and mark the edge. This is where the Threaded Cross Rod will slide through the sign face.



4. The fourth step is to attach Knob to one end of Threaded Cross Rod



5. Slide on Knob Bushing, large flat face against Knob.



6. Slide on Sign Holder Bushing, U-Channel facing in.
7. Insert Threaded Cross Rod into sign face at mark 13-1/2” from top



8. Slide on Sign Holder Bushing U-Channel facing sign.



9. Insert Threaded Cross Rod into hole at top of Upright.



10. Slide on Knob Bushing, large flat face out.



11. Tighten Knobs firmly making sure sign face sits in U-Channels



12. Ta Da! Your Swinger Sidewalk sign is ready to use.

Here are some helpful hints when using your Swinger Sidewalk sign:

Decorate the sign face before attaching to base. Keep design simple for maximum impact.

To transport, tip sign on one upright and hold from other Upright. Sign is only 24” wide and will fit through any doorway.

Swinger Sidewalk Signs are designed for wind loads up to 20-25 mph. In the event of high winds bring sign inside, put sandbags on cross tubes, or add sand to ballast port inside of Upright by prying out cap.

Saving time can save lives – just ask a fireman or police officer.

Or you can ask Bill Seymour, 40, a married father with three children, businessman and volunteer fireman for the past 16 years.

Bill Seymour, a blue collar guy who not only cares about his own family and his neighbors, has strongly recommended the use of the easy to install reflective house number signs on properties throughout the country.

“It leads to significantly faster emergency response time, “Seymour recently told a reporter.

Seymour said he had heard about reflective house numbers from Grace O’Malley a community activist and a member of the board of the Timber Cove Home Association.

Timber Cove, in rural Northern California, is a two to three hour scenic drive north of San Francisco and has only about 300 people living there full time in some 500 homes. But during the summer months the population in this little “Redwood Coast” community swells to over 5,000 people. The town, with virtually no business district or Post Office of its own, includes just two restaurants, two inns and two general stores with gas stations. It serves travelers to area destinations Fort Ross Historical State Park and the Salt Point State Park.

It’s been estimated that only about two percent of the homes in this Sonoma county community had reflective numbers; that’s only about 10 homes in 500. Until now!

Seymour went home from the association meeting and got on the computer and found Alphabet Signs, clear across the country in Wilmington, Delaware.

Bill telephoned and spoke to company president, Daniel Keane and discussed using the reflective house numbers for re-sale as a fundraiser for the Timber Cove fire department. Daniel Keane learned that the local volunteer fire company had an outreach group made up of teenagers interested in pursuing fire fighting as a career. The Explorers group was interested in going house to house and inform residents of the benefits of reflective house numbers to EMT drivers. Keane thought this was a great idea to save lives in light of the California wild fires and offered the firemen a 35% discount. The fireman and Alphabet Signs finally made a deal.

An initial order of 22 reflective house number signs were delivered to Bill Seymours’ house and he explained their use to the teenage group and soon the Explorers were out explaining the signs and installation to property owners. Homeowners were “very impressed” and soon they sold out. The fundraiser was a success and everyone was happy.

O’Malley told a reporter that Michael Singer, the fire chief in the Timber Cove Fire Protection District, which is a 50 square mile unincorporated community in Northwest Sonoma County, had asked the property owners to install the numbers.

“Having unified night visible signs make good sense for homeowners and for those trying to find them to help them, ” said O’Malley.

There are Explorer groups all across America and they train like full-fledged volunteer firemen and are dedicated to saving lives and property. And they do fundraising for their own and other local organizations throughout the year.

“The Explorers is an extension of the Boy Scouts of America,” said Bill Seymour.

“They learn the basic fundamentals of firefighting and EMS services and are advised by professional and volunteer firemen and paramedics.”

Timber Cove volunteer fire department is made up of 30 members. And in a town with just one school (K-12) boasts of an Explorer group of 13 teenagers of which Seymour’s middle-child Chelsy, 15, is an Assistant Chief. His other daughter, Brittany, 17, is also a volunteer fireman. Bill Seymour and wife Katie also have a son, TJ, who is only six-years-old.

Dan Keane, president of Alphabet Signs, said, “The reflective house numbers were the perfect fundraiser item for the Explorers of Timber Cove Fire Department since they provide utility to the organization’s purpose.

“The reflective number addresses save lives, injuries and property simply because they make getting to a specific property easier. And they make it easier for friends and delivery people, like the paramedics or the pizza guy finding a place in the city, the suburbs or the rural spots.”

Talking to scores of police and firemen across the USA over the years they have all agreed that the day was coming when all communities would require reflective numbers on all properties since they save time and save lives and property, a veteran news reporter told Alphabet Signs.

The large 6 by 18 inch placard is easy to put on any property and take only minutes to install but can save so much more time. A simple household screwdriver is all it takes to install the aluminum rust free sign in minutes. “Anyone can do it,” said Keane. The rounded corners guarantee you’ll be safe from sharp cuts. It’s maintenance-free, will not wear out, and made to Federal Highway Administration standards. It’s been government field tested.

‘If our reflective house numbers help ONE fireman or cop or a delivery guy can find an address easier and faster we’ll be happy and satisfied,” said Alphabet Signs Dan Keane.

Explorer Assistant Chief Chelsy Seymour said that a recent wild land fire in the Timber Cove area showed the fire department and community members that “it was significantly” harder to identify one property from the next since the number signs had yet to be installed.

Her father, Bill added about the reflective numbers, “it makes our jobs easier.”

Chelsy noted, “These signs can make every community safer.”

Bill, a native Californian, moved to Timber Cove 17 years ago. The high school grad now owns Timber Cove Excavating he said. He grew up in Manchester near the Pacific Ocean after being born in nearby Crescent City, near the Oregon border.

He’s served on the school board and worked on numerous fundraisers while he also coached little league, T-ball, baseball and softball teams.

Of Alphabet Signs staff he said, “They were extremely helpful. The staff was very courteous…They were punctual on responding to e-mails and whenever they said they would have something done by a certain time, they would have it done.

“Overall, great customer service,” Seymour said.