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Christopher Wheeler | profile | all galleries >> Signs >> American Signs >> The Great American Road Sign Project >> Thou Shall Not! -- Prohibitory Signs tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Thou Shall Not! -- Prohibitory Signs

The federal government publishes an enormous book intended to instruct traffic engineers on how to best design and place signs along America's roads. It's called the "Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices." Take note of what it's NOT called: it's NOT called the "Manual of Uniform Traffic Signs." No, what we call "signs" others call "traffic control devices," with (in my view, anyway) "control" being the operative word. I don't necessarily object to that control -- I mean, we have to 'control' the hundred million cars zooming around this country, but I find the way we go about doing it pretty interesting.

Take, for example, the Bristow, VA sign that cautions not to pass "when solid line is on your side." Dude, if the solid yellow line is on your side, you'd better move back over squarely into your own lane! "Do not stop on tracks," instructs a Terrell, Texas sign. No kidding! And in Penasco, New Mexico, you are not permitted to remove rocks from the highway right of way. Evidently it's better to just let them lie there and clutter the road.

Here are some more examples. Remember: violators will be prosecuted!
v3/89/475089/3/51291122.ThouShaltNotParkHere.jpg Penasco, NM
Penasco, NM
Salisbury, CT
Salisbury, CT
Bristow, VA
Bristow, VA
Spencer, MA
Spencer, MA
White City, NM
White City, NM
Ruidoso Downs, NM
Ruidoso Downs, NM
Baraboo, WI
Baraboo, WI
Hondo, NM
Hondo, NM
Dalton, MA
Dalton, MA
El Dorado, KS
El Dorado, KS
Magdalena, NM
Magdalena, NM
Veguita, NM
Veguita, NM
High Rolls, NM
High Rolls, NM
Milford, PA
Milford, PA
Turners Falls, MA
Turners Falls, MA
VLA, NM
VLA, NM
v3/89/475089/3/51291026.DoNotPass.jpg Elk Grove, MA
Elk Grove, MA
Artesia, NM
Artesia, NM
v3/89/475089/3/51291030.DoNotPickUpHitchhikersInThisArea.jpg Terrell, TX
Terrell, TX
v3/89/475089/3/51291034.DoNotThrowMatches.jpg v3/89/475089/3/51291036.FishingOrBathingFromBridgeProhibited.jpg Well, there goes my family reunion.
Well, there goes my family reunion.
West Springfield, MA
West Springfield, MA
New Boston, MA
New Boston, MA
West Leyden, MA
West Leyden, MA
v3/89/475089/3/51291098.NoLivestockInUnloadingArea.jpg Ludlow, MA
Ludlow, MA
v3/89/475089/3/51291100.NoOutlet.jpg Marquette, MI
Marquette, MI
Three Lakes, WI
Three Lakes, WI
Carlsbad, NM
Carlsbad, NM
Mt. Vernon, OH
Mt. Vernon, OH
 Erving, MA
Erving, MA
v3/89/475089/3/51291109.NoPassingWhenSolidYellowLineIsInYourLane.jpg Hope, NM
Hope, NM
Westfield, MA
Westfield, MA
Hancock, MA
Hancock, MA
New Albany, MS
New Albany, MS
Troutville, VA
Troutville, VA
Eagle Nest, NM
Eagle Nest, NM
Clayton, NM
Clayton, NM
New York, NY
New York, NY
Conway, MA
Conway, MA