§ 45-5. Persons responsible.

(a) Political campaigns.

(1) In the case of a political campaign, a candidate for any office and the chairman and treasurer of any registered political committee is presumptively liable for the costs of sign removal imposed by § 45-4 of this subtitle, as well as for the civil and criminal penalties imposed by this subtitle, if the candidate or the committee was responsible for printing the sign. If the liability is contested, the burden of overcoming the presumption is on the contesting party.

(2) A candidate for public office shall, at the time of filing with the Board of Supervisors of Elections for the candidacy, sign a written statement that acknowledges the candidate's responsibilities under this subtitle. Failure to sign the statement does not affect the liability of the candidate for the penalties and costs provided for in this subtitle.

(b) Other cases.

In all other cases, the person whose name, event, business, location, or merchandise is written on the sign is presumptively liable for the charges imposed by § 45-4 of this subtitle, as well as for the civil and criminal penalties imposed by this subtitle. The burden of overcoming the presumption is on the contesting party.