Vandalism upsets A.A.

Press, 2 May 1981, Page 5

Vandalism upsets A.A.

Anti-Springbok tour stickers affixed to "stop" signs over recent weeks are causing concern to the Canterbury Automobile Association. Stickers reading “the 'Bl tour" have been appearing under the word “Stop" on the signs. “Over recent years, vandalism to road signs erected by the association and other sign-erecting authorities has reached alarming proportions. The cost of restoration has become a matter of grave concern.” the general manager o f the association, Mr E. S. . -Hiser, said in a letter to “The Press.”

Protesters against or advocates for any cause had adequate means of bringing their views before the public without indulging in vandalism. Mr Palliser said. “It seems to me that the stickers which have been affixed to the signs could distract the attention of motorists and thus create a traffic hazard,” he said. “Their removal must surely be costly and could, I understand, damage or destroy the reflectorisation of the signs over the area covered, thereby reducing their effectiveness at night.” A new “Stop” sign cost

more than $5O. and this did not include the cost of erection and the removal of the old sign, Mr Palliser said. The traffic regulations contained stringent provisions regarding traffic signs. The rules say that “there shall not be displayed on any traffic sign any written matter other than that authorised by these regulations. Provided that in the case of any sign erected by an automobile association, a monogram of the association may appear on the sign.” The regulations say that “no person shall remove, mutilate, obscure, or in any

manner damage or interfere with any traffic sign." Traffic signs fall into three categories. The first category, which requires strict legal compliance, covers regulatory signs and this includes “Stop" signs. The second and third categories cover warning and information signs. “At the last meeting of the National Roads Board’s signs committee in March, I. as a member, urged strongly that the board be asked to take all possible steps to trace the people responsible and to institute legal proceedings against them,” Mr Palliser said.