When we awake Wednesday morning, the election will be over. We will have decided who will govern our state and counties in the coming years and we can breathe a sigh of relief that we no longer have to endure the personal attacks candidates launched against one another.

But if the past is any indicator, we will see signs of the election — literally — for months to come.

Typically, campaign signs posted at every four-way stop and in medians along highways are forgotten once a campaign ends. Although a few candidates are responsible and remove their littered signs soon after the election, many leave them for weeks, sometimes months.

Placing advertising signs of any kind — including advertising for candidates — in rights of way is illegal in Alabama.

Based on negative campaigning in the past few years, you might think this law would be easily enforced — candidates seem willing to report one another for any possible violation.

The problem in this case is all the candidates are violating the law.

According to John Lorentson with the Alabama Department of Transportation, it is difficult for state road crews to police use of campaign signs because 1. they are so numerous, 2. it is almost impossible to determine who placed them (it is not always the candidate), and 3. signs are replaced as soon as they are removed.

Trying to keep signs from the road is a “burden to us and the taxpayers,” he said.

So, candidates, if you cannot follow the law, at least show some concern for the citizens you serve and remove these driving hazards.

The bottom line is that laws should not be required to make people do the right thing.