INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis officials are cracking down on illegal advertising benches.

Indiana’s I-Team received a tip about a billboard bench at a bus stop near 65th Street and Keystone Avenue. The city says the bench is illegal because someone placed it on city property without permission.

Dawn Olsen, a spokesperson for the Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services, said, “You cannot place a bench with advertising in the public right of way, and you can’t also you also can’t have a bench in the public right of way that does not have an encroachment license.”

Indiana’s I-Team found illegal benches throughout the city. Olsen said the city requires a permit to ensure benches do not block traffic or pedestrians.

“It should not impede any sort of flow of traffic or affect pedestrian traffic,” Olsen said. “An encroachment license is important because it ensures the safety of the people around that area.”

Illegal benches also attract trash and act as an eyesore.

“When we have gotten reports about these benches, we have heard that trash around the benches is one of the concerns,” Olsen said. “We continue to take reports.”

City officials sent a letter July 29 to the company Mini Billboards. The letter stated that the bench at 65th Street and Keystone Avenue violated city code by sitting on city property.

“We are issuing this notification to allow you ample time to voluntarily comply with these regulations and to remove any and all advertising bench signs under your control, not limited to the bench sign above,” the letter read.

Olsen emphasized the violator is the company that placed the bench, not the company advertising on it. The city gave Mini Billboards until Sept. 1 to follow the rules.

“They did not come into compliance,” Olsen said.

Crews are now removing illegal bench billboards.

“Our illegal dumping crew is out there, you know, maybe they’re on their way to another job,” Olsen said. “They’ll be able to pick it up, but we do refer those benches to them, so they’re able to grab them.”

Indiana’s I-Team found the illegal bench was gone Sept. 24 at 65th Street and Keystone Avenue. Mini Billboards responded via email.

“The letter you forwarded was mailed to an address no longer used, your contact was the first we heard about this,” the company told the I-Team. “We are now in contact with BNS to get it resolved.”

IndyGo’s director of communications, Lisa Soard, said benches or shelters placed by the agency follow ADA guidelines.

“However, it is a common misperception that a bench or shelter are required under ADA regulations,” Soard said.

IndyGo bus stops with shelters, including its Bus Rapid Transit stations and Downtown Super Stops, include trash cans. IndyGo has invested $11.7 million to improve 198 local bus stops, with another 42 scheduled for upgrades by the end of this year.

The city says many companies do not realize they are advertising on illegal benches. Businesses wanting to advertise at a bus stop can contact IndyGo.

“They’re a frequent collaborator with the city, so they know how city code works,” Olsen said. “They know how ordinances work, and you can work with them in order to make sure that your sign and your advertising is compliant.”

Indiana’s I-Team reached out to Garrison Law, an advertiser on the benches, but has not received a response.