The Shelby County Environmental Court in Memphis has it right. They're imposing fines of up to $50 for each election sign found on public property now that Election Day has come and gone. Cases have been heard this year against both Bob Corker and Harold Ford Jr.

It reflects poorly on candidates when their signs are still standing along highways and around neighborhoods long after they should be. If you're capable of recruiting enough volunteers to put out signs but you can't get them taken down in a timely manner, you're just a slacker.

Didn't your mom ever tell you to clean up after yourself?

Other states besides Tennessee have been playing the role of mothers. Delaware charges $25 for each sign still on public property 30 days after an election. The traffic administrator in Columbus, Ohio mails letters to all candidates the day after the election, requesting that their signs be taken down within two weeks.

Restaurant chains are also jumping on the bus, rewarding customers with free food in exchange for signs they pull up.

All I can say is that I hope that anyone running for office (whether it's for a Vanderbilt office or a government office) knows that they need to follow through on the process. Whether you win the election or you lose, not removing your signs makes you look like either a slob or a sore loser.