Fake "Speed Enforced By Drones" Signs On California Freeways 218
NF6X writes "CBS station KPIX reports that somebody has been installing counterfeit traffic signs on California bay area freeways, warning motorists of drone-based speed enforcement. They are professionally-made reflective metal signs of comparable style and quality to official traffic signs, and in some cases are even mounted with tamper-resistant hardware. The signs show the familiar silhouette of an MQ-1 Predator drone launching a weapon. According to KPIX, California Highway Patrol denies that they operate any drones, and states that the signs are fake."
Re:If you can't trust the authenticity of the sign (Score:3, Informative)
That is what you think until you get pulled over by a cop that is already waiting for you and that cop tells you that the plane clocked you at a certain speed. Trust me, those "by aircraft" signs are real.
Sign artist has now been ID'd (Score:5, Informative)
According to NBC News [nbcnews.com], the fake drone signs were a bit of performance art by a local guy named Stephen Whisler. He described his motivation as " partially political and partially a prank".
Re:If you're going to troll, troll in style. (Score:5, Informative)
Here's his website: http://stephenwhisler.net/Stephen_Whisler.html [stephenwhisler.net]. And a direct link to the page on this prank / performance art: http://stephenwhisler.net/Sculpture/Pages/Speed_Enforced_by_Drones.html [stephenwhisler.net].
Re:If you can't trust the authenticity of the sign (Score:3, Informative)
They don't even need aircraft, I have seen officers noting license plates and the time they pass on a stretch of highway. They relay it to another officer much further down (in this case about 40 miles) and if you get there under a certain time they pull you over for speeding.
Someone tried to challenge this in court and lost.
Re:If you can't trust the authenticity of the sign (Score:5, Informative)
I don't think so (from California Vehicle Code Section 40802 -- Speed Traps)
Speed traps are illegal in California.
Re:Spread Awareness (Score:2, Informative)
You do realize that YOU are breaking the law by not moving over when you are driving in the left lane? Yes, even if you are speeding. YOU should learn to read the damn traffic laws, forfeit your license, or both.
Re:Spread Awareness (Score:5, Informative)
You do realize that YOU are breaking the law by not moving over when you are driving in the left lane? Yes, even if you are speeding. YOU should learn to read the damn traffic laws, forfeit your license, or both.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that only apply in two situations:
1) You are travelling less than the speed limit AND slower than the flow of traffic. (Vehicle Code Section 21654.) 2) You are on a two-lane road, and there are more than five vehicles lined up behind you. (Vehicle Code Section 21656.)
You may consider yourself corrected (emphasis mine):
21654. (a) Notwithstanding the prima facie speed limits, any vehicle proceeding upon a highway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall be driven in the right-hand lane for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
Re:"FAKE" (Score:3, Informative)
My bet rests with someone inside the DOT who knows someone at a plant that turns out the signs. And got them to do up a bunch.
It's actually simple to go out to any company that does signage for the state and get them to make signs to state standards for you. I once worked on a software project codenamed "Freeway" and thought it would be cute to have a couple Freeway Entrance signs made to put up in the halls on our floor of the building. The only question the company asked me was to confirm they were for private use.
Re:"FAKE" (Score:2, Informative)
There's nothing special about the places official signs come from. In fact, the DOT doesn't necessarily purchase signs, local municipalities (and businesses) do. Nearly every sign manufacturer capable of making MUTCD-compliant signs will do custom signs. They're not even that expensive (although obviously non-refundable).
Just do a google search. You can have a street name sign with whatever you want on it to hang in your house for like 150 bucks. Standard items like Stop signs can go for as little as 30 bucks in sufficient quantity.
So it could be anyone who pays attention to detail and a little disposable income who made this happen.