Article from: www.thenewspaper.com/news/20/2078.asp

11/19/2007

Virginia: Bogus Speed Limit Signs Generate Real Tickets
Virginia state police issue speeding tickets, later voided, based upon a fake speed limit signs.

A Northampton County, Virginia resident decided to lower the speed limit outside his home by 20 MPH, and for more than six months police went along with it. Because Granville Hogg was upset at the legal 55 MPH pace on Townville Drive near Cherrystone campground, the elderly farmer decided to post his own authentic-looking 35 MPH speed limit signs nearly one year ago.

A Virginia state trooper wrote speeding tickets based upon the sign until June when someone noticed the speed limit sign was placed on private property, instead of public property on the roadside. Troopers insisted the bogus signs be removed as installing one is a class four misdemeanor offense.

"No unauthorized person shall erect or maintain on any highway any warning or direction sign... in imitation of any official sign... erected as provided by law," Virginia Code Section 46.2-831 states.

Instead of prosecuting Hogg, local officials dropped charges against all those who received tickets for exceeding the false 35 MPH speed limit.

Source: Drivers got tickets. But the signs were fake. (Virginian-Pilot (VA), 11/17/2007)

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