‘I Love NY’ signs costs state $8.1M- And they’re illegal – IOTW Report

‘I Love NY’ signs costs state $8.1M- And they’re illegal

FOX:

The hundreds of “I Love NY” highway signs that cost taxpayers $8.1 million are illegal, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which claims state officials knew the signage violated federal law prior to its installation.

The Federal Highway Administration told Fox News the 514 bright blue placards, which cost roughly $15,000 each, must be modified because they amount to advertisements — instead of being navigational or safety-related — and are a dangerous distraction to drivers.

“They do not conform to federal rules,” said Doug Hecox, a spokesman for the Federal Highway Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“The signs have a URL – they’re encouraging drivers to go to a website,” Hecox said.

The use of signs for advertising purposes has been prohibited since the 1960s. Hecox said the signs in question — which currently dot roadways across New York — specifically fail to comply with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the Highway Beautification Act.  read more

14 Comments on ‘I Love NY’ signs costs state $8.1M- And they’re illegal

  1. And what are they going to do about it? My guess: nothing. And most New Yorkers won’t care anyway so the story will fizzle out.

    There are times I love to be wrong, and if this proves to be one of them, all the better.

  2. What’s really sad is that it’s only Manhattan Island that gives NY a bad name. Every other part of the state is much like America.

    It’s the same in CA. I CA was fenced off with the demarcation fence being the San Andreas Fault on Westward, everything else would be pretty good.

  3. Logo sign program is specifically designed to give interstate travelers a heads up on restaurants, gasoline stations,campgrounds, and other specific categories of goods and services within a specific distance from the exit. There are specific requirements regarding hours of operation, etc.
    Goven the fact many people drive automobiles with navigation systems or carry smartphones with that technology, I’m surprised the program still exists.
    In the Florida DOT, years ago these logo panels were sought after by big restaurant chains,who wanted to lure travelers to their locations rather than having a generic food and lodging sign and large billboard advertisements.

  4. State DOTs must adopt the MUTCD standards for all signage. The MUTCD give specific sizes, shapes, fonts, reflectivity, etc,,i,e, that is the “Uniform” in the title.

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