In Irkutsk, outdoor advertising placement rules have been tightened, and now there are noticeably more violators, including among ad firms themselves. The article explains how city authorities detect illegal ads on facades, poles, and fences, and why businesses break the rules in a crisis. It also explains the fines now faced for such ads and why they keep reappearing.

Advertising should be civilized. Since the beginning of 2009, a new procedure for the maintenance and improvement of the city of Irkutsk has been in effect. The rules for placing outdoor advertising have also been tightened. There are more violators. Among them, paradoxically, are companies that specialize in producing banners and other advertising products. How can entrepreneurs attract customers while complying with the law?
This year, a huge amount of all kinds of unauthorized advertising has appeared in the center of Irkutsk. This was reported today by Andrey Markelov, executive secretary of the administrative commission of the Pravoberezhny District, during an inspection of commercial firms placing illegal advertising on building facades.
The economic crisis is taking its toll. Companies need to promote themselves. There is no extra money to do it in a civilized way. So these signs appear in the wrong places. "If before we had to, as they say, catch the poster hangers red-handed, now we do not need to do that. There are owners of buildings, structures, light poles, and other property - it is enough for us to identify the owners of this property and draw up a report against them," said Andrey Markelov, executive secretary of the administrative commission of the Pravoberezhny District of Irkutsk.
By the way, the owner may not even know that advertising is placed on his property. But the customer, of course, is aware. In such cases, notices are issued directly to the entrepreneurs.
And of Irkutsk.
Since this year, fines have increased, for legal entities they have doubled - now they are 20,000 rubles. For an official, five thousand, and for ordinary citizens, one and a half thousand.
In terms of the amount of advertising placed in prohibited areas, few things can compare with posters. As a rule, touring organizers find special stands insufficient. Building facades, lampposts and, of course, fences are used. And the concert has long since taken place, and the circus has left - but the advertising will hang there until its place is taken by a new one.
Of course, fences are cleaned. But poster hangers come again. Some, by the way, do this for free. Here a group of volunteers is hurrying to inform the youth of Irkutsk that a party will soon take place in one of the nightclubs. They certainly know that the posters, through their efforts, appear where they should not.