Resident faces $100-a-day fines for projecting Trump logo on town's water tower: report

A Massachusetts town is cracking down on a resident’s projection of a Donald Trump political sign onto the town’s water tower, warning a cease-and-desist letter is in the works and a $100-a-day fine is possible “until the activity is discontinued.”

Lisa Green, town administrator in Hanson, Massachusetts, issued a statement over the weekend after the town “became aware that a resident was projecting the image of a political sign from their property onto the Town of Hanson municipal water tower,” according to a statement from Green as reported in the New York Post. The statement added that the town “does not endorse candidates for any office from any political party, nor does the Town allow political signs to be displayed on municipal property.”

An image from Boston 25 News included in the report shows a large “Trump 2024” logo projected onto a plain white water tower. A second photo apparently shows the resident’s projector in their backyard being propped up by a storage container.

Green said that the town’s sign regulations make clear that the resident’s actions are a violation of the town bylaws.

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“The Town is working on a cease and desist order to present to the resident,” Green said. “The Town intends to issue the maximum fine of $100 per day until the activity is discontinued.”

She said that a spotlight has been positioned by Highway Department employees “to shine on the water tower to dim the projection. Further measures are being considered at this time.”

“This individual’s actions have the potential to cost a significant amount of taxpayer dollars, including attorney fees, overtime to pay Highway Department workers to turn the spotlight on and off each day, and the potential for having to rent or purchase stronger lighting equipment. The $100 per day fine will likely not cover these expenses.”

Green added in her statement that “the Town of Hanson respects the free speech rights of all residents, and the right of all residents to express their political views, but not on Town property or in a manner that makes it appear that the Town of Hanson is endorsing any political candidate.”