Acts of vandalism costly to taxpayers

Vandals with paintball guns have started using highway signs for target practice.
MoDOT Northeast District Engineer Paula Gough said this is a major problem resulting in big expenses for the Missouri taxpayer. “Even though some of the signs can be cleaned, others have to be replaced since the cleaning chemicals can destroy the sign’s special reflective coating that makes them visible at night.”
The average cost to replace a highway sign such as a curve or stop sign, including labor, runs in the neighborhood of $300. Larger signs, such as those found on four-lane highways or the interstate can easily run into thousands of dollars. “When you consider there are approximately 55,300 signs along the 3,400 miles of road in the Northeast District alone, the cost for sign damage can be shocking,” she explained.
The absence of a road sign makes it more difficult for law enforcement and emergency crews to respond to a life-threatening situation.
Removing or tampering with signs is against the law and punishable by a fine of $1,000 and one year imprisonment.
Questions about property damage issues or other transportation projects can be answered by calling MoDOT’s toll-free Customer Service line at 1-888-275-6636 (1-888-ASK MODOT) during normal business hours or visiting the Web site at www.modot.gov/northeast.