Street sign theft
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Street sign theft occurs when street signs are stolen, often to be used as decorations, but also sometimes to avoid obeying the law by claiming later the sign was not there.[citation needed] Although the theft often seems arbitrary, signs that are unusual or amusing tend to be stolen more frequently. Sometimes considered to be a prank by the perpetrators, the theft is often costly and inconveniencing for the municipality or agency that owns the sign. In the United States, each street sign generally costs between $100 and $500 to replace.[1][2]
Popular culture can act as a catalyst to street sign theft. Popular bands The Beatles and Lynyrd Skynyrd have inadvertently perpetuated street sign theft as their songs and albums include real place names including Penny Lane, Blue Jay Way, Abbey Road, and Brickyard Road.
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[edit] In law
In most jurisdictions, the theft of traffic signage is treated like any other theft with respect to prosecution and sentencing. If, however, the theft leads to an injury, then the thieves may be found criminally liable. In one notable United States case, Nissa Baillie, Thomas Miller, and Christopher Cole were found guilty of manslaughter for stealing a stop sign and thereby causing a deadly collision.[3][4][5] This was publicized in the novel Driver's Ed by Caroline B. Cooney.
[edit] Prevention
Some jurisdictions place stickers on street signs warning of the legal punishment for their theft. Some cities use unique and specially designed bolts to attach signs and prevent removal. However, most street signs are attached to the post by an ordinary 1/2" hex head bolt with a lock washer.[citation needed]
[edit] Examples
[edit] Popular culture examples
- Brickyard Road, Clay County, Florida (See above). Fans repeatedly stole the road sign because Lynyrd Skynyrd lead singer Ronnie Van Zant was living there before his death in 1977 and his brother, Johnny Van Zant, released an album and single called Brickyard Road in 1990. The county eventually erected a concrete pillar with the street name painted on it, as opposed to a traditional road sign.
- Leganés, Spain dedicated some streets to rock groups like AC/DC, Iron Maiden and Rosendo. The AC/DC sign was stolen days after inauguration. Leganés authorities now offer identical signs for sale.[6]
- State, provincial or federal highways in many countries may face sign theft issues if their route number has popular culture connotations. Numbers especially prone to theft include 69 because of its use as a slang term for oral sex, 420 because of its connection to marijuana culture, and 666 because of its association with the Biblical Number of the Beast. Route 66 in the United States, the subject of a famous 1960s pop song, also sees frequent sign theft — signs are so often stolen that in some places it can be difficult to navigate without knowing the route.[7]
- Ragged Ass Road in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada saw such frequent sign thefts that the city welded the sign to the post and began to sell replica street signs.[8]
[edit] Other culture and language
- After frequent thefts of its welcome sign at the town boundary, the Austrian village of Fucking installed theft-resistant signs in 2005.[9]
[edit] Targeted signs
 Swedish elk warning sign, a popular tourist souvenir |
 The Fucking, Austria, street sign |
 Shades of Death Road on a steel I-beam |
 Welcome to Intercourse, Pennsylvania, USA |
 Interstate 69 |
 County Road 69 |
 Polar bear warning sign on Svalbard, Norway |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ The cost of Vandalism: Time, frustration and cash. Zach Church, Eagle-Tribune. July 29, 2007.
- ^ Manual of Traffic Signs Richard C. Mouer
- ^ Defendants get 15-year Prison Sentences for stop-sign killings. CNN Interactive. June 20, 1997. Access date: July 29, 2007.
- ^ Stop-sign group challenges sentence. St. Petersburg times, March 24, 2001
- ^ Baillie, Cole, and Miller were sentenced to between 27 and 46 years in prison, but would go free after only five years after a judge ordered a retrial because the prosecutor had overemphasized certain evidence in her closing arguments. The prosecution declined to bring the case a second time.[1][2]
- ^ Las placas de la «calle AC/DC» se pondrán a la venta a partir del próximo lunes, El Mundo, April 5, 2000.
- ^ Route 66 information page
- ^ "Turkey's costly signs of the times". Asia Times Online, February 4, 2008.
- ^ What’s the F---ing joke?
