The city has started a crackdown on restaurants and other establishments that use sidewalk signs, by slapping bars and eateries with Department of Sanitation (DOS) violations.

City law allows owners to place the signs directly outside the establishment, but the so-called sandwich signs used to advertise daily specials or happy hour often break the law by extending past the allowed 3-foot limit.

DOS officials said the agency issues more than 18,000 sidewalk obstruction violations each year, but were unable to determine how many of those fines were for the sidewalk signs.

Business owners usually pay the fines and consider the cost as a part of doing business in New York City, the spokesperson said.

–Liz Goff