It’s more than a prank when road signs are removed.
Erin’s road superintendent Larry Van Wyck recently told council about a rash of sign removals throughout town.
Councillors were clearly upset with what was happening.
Early in November, Mayor Lou Maieron said, “It has come to my attention that the weekend prior to Halloween a number of signs were removed throughout the town.”
Van Wyck said it happened the Thursday before. About 20 signs were removed.
When asked what types of signs were taken, he said a variety.
In Erin on Mill and Millford Streets, every sign between Main Street to Waterford was removed. That included stop signs and no parking signs.
“It didn’t matter if it was on a wood post or a steel post. Cars were driven into them.”
Van Wyck added, “It happened in the rural areas as well.”
He listed the various streets and roads where signs were removed. “This was not one isolated area,” Van Wyck said.
He noted most of the vandalism happened on the Thursday, but additional signs were taken on Halloween.
He said many of the signs were simply knocked down, and when reinstalled, vandalized again.
Councillor John Brennan noted how dangerous such actions are.
Mayor Lou Maieron asked what happens if an accident occurs because of such actions.
“It would be serious,” Van Wyck said.
He said when the department discovered a sign is down or removed, “We respond immediately to put it back up.”
He added, “This is a matter of not knowing. You can’t be everywhere all the time.”
Van Wyck said while the stop signs were immediately dealt with, regulatory signs were not, on the belief that they might again be vandalized over the Halloween weekend.
He said 20 signs were vandalized on the Thursday, with potentially another 10 over Halloween.
“This is very serious, which is why I brought it up,” said Maieron.
As bad as it sounded, Van Wyck said that type of vandalism is not uncommon, and in certain areas of town stop signs are regularly targeted.
“Four or five times a year we’re replacing stop signs at certain intersections. I don’t condone it, but it is happening regularly.”
He said it usually happens over a weekend.
Brennan said, “This goes well beyond being a prank.”
Van Wyck agreed. “Especially when they are stop signs.”
Brennan said, “It jeopardizes everyone who uses that road.”
Van Wyck suspected if the police ever caught the culprit, charges of criminal negligence would be laid. The problem is proving who did it.
Even if there is a suspicion as to the culprit, an eye witness is needed, he said.
“Very few people are willing to cooperate. It’s something Crime Stoppers could be used for. I just find it very distressing people are doing this for enjoyment – when someone’s life could be taken [as a result].”
Van Wyck said in rural areas where people travel at a greater rate of speed is an even bigger concern.
