DECEMBER 16, 2024 |
Photo – Wyoming signs defaced with stickers – Courtesy WYDOT
The Wyoming Department of Transportation is asking the public not to steal road signs.
Last week, WYDOT Senior Public Relations Specialist Andrea Staley released a statement saying that road sign theft has increased over the past few months.
The sign theft problem has gotten worse over time, with common targets including the “Welcome to Wyoming” and “Entering Wyoming” signs. Additionally, smaller signs, such as stop signs and traffic signs have also been stolen. Staley writes that stolen signs create dangerous conditions for travelers and can lead to crashes.
No stolen signs have been reported in Carbon County. Staley told Bigfoot99 that most of the thefts have occurred in Albany County.
WYDOT reports that the large “Welcome to Wyoming” signs, found on major highways such as Interstate 80, can cost up to $3,000 to replace, while the smaller signs can range between $1,500 and $2,000.
Wyoming state law classifies theft of $1,000 or more as a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Theft of smaller signs worth less than $1,000 is considered a misdemeanor crime and can result in jail time of up to six months and a $750 fine.
WYDOT District One Traffic Supervisor Mike Ginther wrote, “Stolen stop signs cause a great risk to the traveling public. Travelers unfamiliar with an area can blow through an intersection and involve themselves and others in a crash they normally would have stopped or yielded to.”
WYDOT also discourages people from defacing signs with stickers or markings, which also carries a fine.
In her statement, Senior Public Relations Specialist Staley wrote that the cost of replacing signs and posts, as well as cleaning defaced and damaged signs, comes out of the state highway maintenance budget. By stealing road signs, people are taking money away from snow removal, pothole repairs, and highway maintenance.
If you know of a missing or stolen road sign, call the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Laramie District Office at 745-2127.
