Illegal Sign

Posted Friday, November 23, 2007, at 9:34 AM

On November 11 I posted a blog about portable, rolling signs that were on both sides of I-65 with lights spelling out info on what appeared to be a private car show. I sent this information to Kate Howard, otherwise known as Ms. Beep, with the Tennessean. No one with the Williamson County Ag Expo Center where the car show was being held, the Williamson Co. planners, Williamson County highway department, or the parks and recreation departments, which hosted the event, admitted knowing anything about the signs. Ms. Beep checked with TDOT and was told electronic signs are put up for events drawing 50,000 or more which might cause traffic problems (think Bonnaroo), but the signs I saw were not approved. TDOT representative said had they known about the signs, they probably would have been removed for safety sake.

So, if you see portable, rolling signs on the interstate right-of-way, it may be that they aren't authorized and are there illegally.

Comments
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Are the signs you're referring to the electronically-generated signs normally seen along interstates describing traffic problems, etc., or the ugly yellow signs with stick-on letters that Bedford County has too many of?

-- Posted by David Melson on Fri, Nov 23, 2007, at 10:13 AM

David,

I thinks those ugly yellow signs with the stick on letters are illegal inside the city limits aren't they?

-- Posted by cordell on Fri, Nov 23, 2007, at 11:17 AM

It's my understanding that those signs are legal if they're permanently attached to signposts, etc., but illegal if portable and mounted to trailers.

-- Posted by David Melson on Fri, Nov 23, 2007, at 2:49 PM

These were signs on wheels that rolled. They had electronic letters or numbers that flashed on the screen.

-- Posted by bettyhbrown on Fri, Nov 23, 2007, at 4:33 PM