No more ‘love’ in stop signs, state says

updated 1:34 p.m. ET May 2, 2008

OAK LAWN, Ill. - Oak Lawn removed comical remarks in octagonal shapes it placed under stop signs in an effort to get motorists to obey the law.

Mayor Dave Heilmann said the Illinois Department of Transportation determined the signs violated the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. He said had Oak Lawn not removed the signs, the city could have lost federally funded projects.

The public safety campaign to cut down on speeding through stop signs began in September. Slogans such as "and smell the roses" and "means that you aren't moving" were placed near 50 stop signs.

At the time, Heilmann said he thought the remarks would get motorists to pause, if for nothing else, to read the phrases.

Heilmann said IDOT's objection to the signs meant he had to junk $1,700 worth of signs.

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