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No joke: Feds are banning humorous electronic messages on highways
Channel 3000 News/AP ^ | January 15, 2024 | AP Staff

Posted on 01/15/2024 6:07:12 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin

It’s no joke. Humorous and quirky messages on electronic signs will soon disappear from highways and freeways across the country.

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has given states two years to implement all the changes outlined in its new 1,100-page manual released last month, including rules that spells out how signs and other traffic control devices are regulated.

Administration officials said overhead electronic signs with obscure meanings, references to pop culture or those intended to be funny will be banned in 2026 because they can be misunderstood or distracting to drivers.

The agency, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, said signs should be “simple, direct, brief, legible and clear” and only be used for important information such as warning drivers of crashes ahead, adverse weather conditions and traffic delays. Seatbelt reminders and warnings about the dangers of speeding or driving impaired are also allowed.

Among those that will be disappearing are messages such as “Use Yah Blinkah” in Massachusetts; “Visiting in-laws? Slow down, get there late,” from Ohio; “Don’t drive Star Spangled Hammered,” from Pennsylvania; “Hocus pocus, drive with focus” from New Jersey; and “Hands on the wheel, not your meal” from Arizona.

Arizona has more than 300 electronic signs above its highways. For the last seven years, the state Department of Transportation has held a contest to find the funniest and most creative messages.

Anyone could submit ideas, drawing more than 3,700 entries last year. The winners were “Seatbelts always pass a vibe check” and “I’m just a sign asking drivers to use turn signals.”

“The humor part of it, we kind of like,” said state Rep. David Cook, a Republican from Globe, told Phoenix TV station CBS 5. “I think in Arizona the majority of us do, if not all of us."

(Excerpt) Read more at channel3000.com ...


TOPICS: Humor; Society
KEYWORDS: feds; firstamendment; humorless; illegal; restraintoftrade; traffic; unconstitutional
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Hm-m-m ... unless FedGov is paying for those notification systems the states involved should tell FedGov to f**k off.


21 posted on 01/15/2024 6:16:34 AM PST by ByteMercenary (Cho Bi Dung and KamalHo are not my leaders.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

22 posted on 01/15/2024 6:17:24 AM PST by Lazamataz (Laz 2005: "First, we beat the Soviet Union. Then we became them.")
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

23 posted on 01/15/2024 6:18:33 AM PST by Lazamataz (Laz 2005: "First, we beat the Soviet Union. Then we became them.")
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

24 posted on 01/15/2024 6:19:34 AM PST by Lazamataz (Laz 2005: "First, we beat the Soviet Union. Then we became them.")
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

25 posted on 01/15/2024 6:20:46 AM PST by Lazamataz (Laz 2005: "First, we beat the Soviet Union. Then we became them.")
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

26 posted on 01/15/2024 6:21:49 AM PST by Lazamataz (Laz 2005: "First, we beat the Soviet Union. Then we became them.")
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

She eyed his beard

And said NO Dice

The weddings off

I’ll cook the rice!

Burma Shave


27 posted on 01/15/2024 6:22:28 AM PST by BBB333 (The Power Of Trump Compels You!)
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To: Lazamataz

Oh no! :)


28 posted on 01/15/2024 6:22:31 AM PST by dljordan
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To: dfwgator

29 posted on 01/15/2024 6:22:42 AM PST by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

30 posted on 01/15/2024 6:23:20 AM PST by Lazamataz (Laz 2005: "First, we beat the Soviet Union. Then we became them.")
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To: PAR35

I live in a small state so borders are always nearby. My wife takes it as a challenge. The sign says 12 minutes, I’ll do it in 11


31 posted on 01/15/2024 6:23:49 AM PST by cyclotic (Don’t be part of the problem. Be the entire problem)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

32 posted on 01/15/2024 6:25:24 AM PST by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Too many feds. In fact, most of us here are fed up with the feds running out of things to do which happens when there’s 3 times the number of loafers needed. IN some none are required and the agency needs to shut down forever.

Along with drastically reducing the number of agencies and bureaus most of the cabinet positions along with the offices must be eliminated. Expenses for operating the ones left need to be trimmed to the very bone!

Everything is duplicated in American government for no apparent reason other than to be proud of extraneous growth to one’s employer. Each state has a corresponding office, making the duplication appear ridiculous.

Then the los IQ ones should be skimmed off and fired.


33 posted on 01/15/2024 6:25:24 AM PST by ABStrauss (I miss Rush! )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

The Blue Meanies are against all kinds of mirth and laughter.

And they live among us every day. Just because they can, and we let them.


34 posted on 01/15/2024 6:29:25 AM PST by alloysteel (Most people slog through life without ever knowing the wonders of true insanity.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

What opinions the masses hold, or do not hold, is looked on as a matter of indifference. They can be granted intellectual liberty because they have no intellect.

– George Orwell

1984. Part 2, Chapter 9. Winston reading from Emmanuel Goldstein’s book.


35 posted on 01/15/2024 6:29:29 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: dfwgator

Must be a democrat suburb.


36 posted on 01/15/2024 6:29:45 AM PST by EvilCapitalist (81 million votes my ass.)
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To: NavyShoe

Safety messages will be remembered with a touch of humor. Unnecessary, unrelated messages are not a good use of taxpayer dollars.
Looming for a message board myself for sayings such as:
The Older I get
The earlier it gets late.
https://www.hahahumor.com/funny-signs-in-texas/


37 posted on 01/15/2024 6:30:37 AM PST by griswold3 (Truth, Beauty and Goodness. )
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To: EvilCapitalist

38 posted on 01/15/2024 6:30:50 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Good. Those things are stupid. Multiple studies have shown we have too many freaking signs on our roads to begin with. We know distracted driving causes accidents. So putting yet more signs on the road, that have no real purpose other than distracting drivers is stupid. And counter productive.

And remember, ie the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System, are really federal. So yes they do get to make the rules.


39 posted on 01/15/2024 6:31:14 AM PST by discostu (like a dog being shown a card trick)
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To: Lazamataz

Lol!


40 posted on 01/15/2024 6:31:57 AM PST by EvilCapitalist (81 million votes my ass.)
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