Why this Adelaide council isn’t laughing at cheeky road signs
AN Adelaide council hasn’t seen the funny side to ironic slogans suddenly appearing on traffic signs — it’s taken the signage down and issued a stern warning for the prankster to stop.
AN Adelaide council hasn’t seen the funny side to ironic slogans appearing on street signs — it’s taken the signage down and issued a stern warning to the prankster to stop his unwanted artwork.
Street signs painted with comical slogans had been spotted in Adelaide’s inner-west, including at Bowden and Brompton.
One stop sign was changed to: “I’ll STOP the World and Melt With You” — a reference to 1982 song I Melt With You by one-hit wonders Modern English.
While another poked fun at the suburbs’ trendy subculture with “STOP it with the hipster beards already”.
But the artist’s attempt at humour hit a roadblock when they were spotted by council.
Charles Sturt Council has removed the signs and reported the acts of vandalism to police.
The council’s acting chief executive, Paul Sutton, said altering the signs was a hazard for motorists.
“This practice is very dangerous ... we encourage the person who is doing this to stop immediately so that the public is no longer put in danger,” Mr Sutton said.
The council has removed signs at the corners of East St and Second St and Drayton St and Hawker St.
Mr Sutton said repairs cost ratepayers between $200 and $500 per sign.
Under the Road Traffic Act, a person that alters traffic controls without approval is liable for fines of up to $5000 or one year imprisonment.
A police spokesman encouraged witnesses to report vandals.
“The message to those defacing signs is to advise them that it’s a criminal offence punishable by fine and or imprisonment — don’t do it,” he said.
Pictures of the stop signs posted to Adelaide Street Art’s Facebook page have gathered more than 1200 “likes” and 250 “shares” since early August.
The page’s administrator, John Goodridge, said the work “clearly resonated with people”.
“In my personal opinion the work is not dangerous, it is more of a look and laugh type of thing,” Mr Goodridge said.
“I can understand where the councils is coming from, but I think there are others things on the road that are more likely to distract drivers.”