HIT SEND. >> RIGHT NOW ON GULF COAST NEWS AT 6. >> THEY’RE TRYING TO MAKE A POINT. THEY’RE TRYING TO MAKE A POINT AND PUNISH ME. >> NEW AT 6, A CAPE CORAL HOMEOWNER HAS TO PAY UP FOR HIS POLITICAL SIGNS. DAVID MORTON LOST HIS LEGAL BATTLE AND WE’LL HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS IN FINES AFTER HE PUT THE SIGNS IN HIS YARD. GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT 6. I’M PETER BUSCH. >> AND AT LEAST IN GARY, THE CITY SAYS IT’S NOT EXACTLY WHAT THE SIGNS SAY, BUT WHERE THEY’RE PLANTED. WE WANTED TO FIND OUT IF THIS WAS A CODE VIOLATION, OUR CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATION REPORTER NEARLY GRAND PIER IS COVERING THE GULF COAST AND CAPE CORAL TONIGHT. THE FRIENDS OF MINE. WE TELL YOU >> THAT WHEN WHEN I’M RIGHT ON LIKE A PIT BULL, DAVID MORTON SAYS HE’S NOT GOING DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT OR AT LEAST HIS SIGNS AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP OUTSIDE HIS HOME ON CORNWALLIS PARKWAY AREN’T WELL, THIS PICTURE. >> SHOWS THAT THIS BLUE LINE HERE IS THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY, WHICH WHICH IS WHAT MY CITATION WAS BASED ON. THEY SAID THAT MY SIGNS WERE IN THE CITY RIGHT OF WHAT DAVID IS NOW FACING MORE THAN $2000 IN FINES AFTER CITY LEADERS SAY THE SIGNS WERE ON CITY PROPERTY. TODAY HE FOUGHT THOSE FINES UP WITH CITY SITE OVER THE CITY. ARE YOU DAVID SIGNS WERE AT LEAST 6 FEET AWAY FROM THE ROAD. YOU ALSO CAN’T HAVE MORE THAN 3. >> IN THE HEARING, THE CODE OFFICER SAID SIGNS BIGGER THAN 2 BY 2 FEET ARE AGAINST CITY RULES TOO. >> AND YOU CAN SEE THAT. I HAVE NEIGHBORS THAT HAVE 3 BY 5. SIGNS UP. AND AND I FIND THESE JUST TASTEFUL THESE BECAUSE IT’S THE CUBS AND NOT THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES. >> AND THAT’S WHAT WANT THAT NEXT GAVE IT ARGUED HE MOVED TO SIGNS AFTER A WARNING BUT WAS FOUND GUILTY. EVEN WITH TODAY’S LOSS. HE PLANS ON TAKING THINGS FURTHER. >> NO, THERE ARE 100% CONCERNED WITH THE SIGNS. SAY MY NEXT MOVE, I GUESS ISN’T GOING TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY. NOW. >> HSU THE CITY COVERING THE GULF COAST IN CAPE CORAL, MAYOR GRAHAM CARE, GULF COAST USE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE YOUR PROPERTY ENDS WILL USE AN AERIAL VIEW OF OUR TV STATION AS AN EXAMPLE HERE. >> SEE THIS BLUE LINE THAT SHOWS THE STATION’S PROPERTY LINE VERSUS THE CITIES, THE SLIVER OF LAND BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK AND OUR PROPERTY THAT’S CALLED THE EASEMENT. THAT’S WHERE CAPE CORAL SAYS MORTON PLANTED HIS SIGNS, WHICH IS WHY HE GOT THOSE FINES. IF YOU’D LIKE TO SEE IF ANYTHING IN YOUR YARD CROSSES THAT LINE. WE HAVE A LINK
Cape Coral homeowner plans legal action over fines for anti-Trump signs
Updated: 7:04 PM EDT Jun 11, 2026
David Morton, a homeowner on Cornwallis Parkway, is facing over $2,000 in fines after city officials cited his anti-Donald Trump signs for violating code compliance, and he now plans to sue the city. “Well, friends of mine will tell you that when I’m right, I’m like a pit bull,” Morton said. “This picture shows that this blue line here is the city right-of-way, which is what my citation was based on. They said that my signs were in the city right-of-way.”City officials argued during a hearing that Morton’s signs violated multiple regulations, including being less than six feet from the road, exceeding the size limit of two by two feet, and having more than three signs displayed. “That’s when I gave him a warning and told him I’d be back the next week to see if he complied, but he didn’t,” said Code Officer Frank John during the hearing. Morton argued that he moved his signs after receiving the warning, but was ultimately found guilty during the hearing. Despite the ruling, Morton remains determined to fight the fines.“They are 100% concerned with what the signs say,” Morton said. Morton told Gulf Coast News he plans on hiring a lawyer and will sue the city. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
David Morton, a homeowner on Cornwallis Parkway, is facing over $2,000 in fines after city officials cited his anti-Donald Trump signs for violating code compliance, and he now plans to sue the city.
“Well, friends of mine will tell you that when I’m right, I’m like a pit bull,” Morton said. “This picture shows that this blue line here is the city right-of-way, which is what my citation was based on. They said that my signs were in the city right-of-way.”
City officials argued during a hearing that Morton’s signs violated multiple regulations, including being less than six feet from the road, exceeding the size limit of two by two feet, and having more than three signs displayed.
“That’s when I gave him a warning and told him I’d be back the next week to see if he complied, but he didn’t,” said Code Officer Frank John during the hearing.
Morton argued that he moved his signs after receiving the warning, but was ultimately found guilty during the hearing. Despite the ruling, Morton remains determined to fight the fines.
“They are 100% concerned with what the signs say,” Morton said.
Morton told Gulf Coast News he plans on hiring a lawyer and will sue the city.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.