Putting a price tag on a roadway sign or caution or intersection light might sound a little excessive but when one considers a life could be at stake, it may not seem so over the top. What starts out as boredom on a Friday or Saturday night can result in damage to state property and taxpayers are left to pick up the cost unless the perpetrator is picked up by law enforcement and prosecuted.
MoDOT South Central District Engineer Tom Stehn said consequences for vandalizing or stealing roadway signs, lighting or other state highway property ought to be a deterrent but he is not sure everyone understands the cost. “Anyone caught in the act of destroying or stealing state property is subject to prosecution,” he said. “In Missouri, property damage totaling more than $750, including vehicles, could get you up to four years in prison or up to a $5,000 fine but the cost could be even greater – a life.”
MoDOT takes highway safety seriously. Careful planning is put into placement of highway signs, intersection lighting, caution lights and traffic signals and even temporary signs such as those found in work zones. If one of these signs is removed, Stehn warns that drivers may not have the advantage early warning of curves and intersections provided by these devices.
“Drivers could pull up to an unfamiliar intersection darkened by a damaged light or miss the intersection altogether because the junction sign has been taken and end up in a traffic crash,” he said. “Someone could fail to successfully negotiate a curve due to a missing warning sign and leave the roadway. As if it weren’t enough to be injured in such a crash, the victim could suffer disabling injuries or even be killed. There’s much more at stake than just the fines or jail time.”
Also under Missouri law, anyone who is convicted for damaging or stealing state highway property, which leads to an accident, has opened himself or herself up to civil liability. The victim, or the victim’s family, could seek compensation from the individual.
Stehn said it is important for taxpayers to realize when damaged or stolen state property must be repaired or replaced, they pick up the tab. “MoDOT is forced to dip into highway improvement funds to cover the cost of restoring these items,” he said. “This takes away from funds needed to perform highway work.”
The average cost to replace a highway sign, including labor, runs in the neighborhood of $300. This number sounds even higher when you consider there are approximately 55,000 signs along the 3,200 miles of road in the South Central District of MoDOT alone. Each time one of these signs is damaged or stolen, it must be replaced to keep motorists safe. One also must consider $300 is the price to replace an average sign such as a curve or stop ahead sign. Larger signs, such as those found on four-lane highways or the interstate can easily run into the thousands.
Senior Electrician Chris Medley said that MoDOT spends approximately $400 to replace each damaged intersection light. The South Central District maintains more than 200 lights that are at heavily traveled intersections.
Stehn said regardless of the cost to replace signs and lighting, the true cost is that of a life lost. “We are asking for the cooperation of the public in keeping an eye on this activity,” he said. “If you witness damage to a sign or lighting, please report it. If you notice damage after it has already occurred, call our customer service center so we may address it immediately and prevent any tragic results.”