I haven't removed any of those yet. But I understand. My favorite by far item to remove are the "We buy houses", "Rent to own", and the other less scrupulous "businesses". I also usually leave the garage sales and lost cats alone too. The "We buy houses" people are enough to keep me busy.

I remember reading something a while ago about venerated objects (those crosses) being considered trash by the court. I think it was published in the causs forum someplace. Does anyone know where the link is?

This topic has come up before but I never realized the extent of these roadside memorials.

There is even a just completed drama/sci-fi major movie starring Gary Busey called "Descansos." It has the description as follows:

"A man compelled to rid the world of roadside memorials must face his darkest secret when he meets a mysterious woman determined to preserve one."

You can see the trailer at
http://www.cmrstudios.com/Descansos/Equinox_Trailer.htm

The female lead, Christina Carson, takes the following position. "She understands opinions on both sides of the issue regarding roadside memorials, and believes that standardized federal legislation should be considered as a way of protecting the rights of grieving victims, while at the same time giving consideration to the passersby."

A story related to the film and the state of Florida which maintains 400 roadside memorials is at
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041130/NEWS/411300394/1004

The folks who did the film apparently started with a plan to do a documentary but is is not clear if this was completed or just morphed into the drama. They also have a web site dedicated to the issue of roadside memorials:
http://roadsidetributes.org
It has some interestings facts.

Here is a mild rant on the issue:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/pile/200111.html

I guess there is no shortage of opinion.

Newbie (not)

I don't take them down.

In fact, I make a special point of keeping the spam signs cleaned away from them.

It is a matter of respect for the grieving families who put these memorials up at the locations where they lost their loved ones.

Think about it. Somebody loved the person who lost their life at that very spot. How can you disrespect and/or desecrate that?

Best regards,
NoSpam

These are illegal in Georgia and are usually removed after a while by the road crews. The mowers plow right through them and the families often are tenacious about replacing them. Personally, they are morbid and distracting. Some, when made out of solid items like concrete and wood are actually dangerous to traffic should another accidient occur, as is one case right near me. The corner is so bad that at the slightest frost or snow, cars go plowing through the same place on Chastain Road and take out the tree they keep replanting and the cross placed thereupon. It's not a good corner design.

I'd remove any as litter if there were any on my "beat".

This subject is as touchy as political signs. Illegal or not, I leave em alone.

I have never encountered one on my beat. I would likely leave it alone.

I see them all the time on the road but they don't seem to become all that widespread - between the Florida and Atlanta I noticed maybe 3 in total in a span of 300 miles - not a big deal as far as volume goes.

They should serve as a reminder to pay attention to your driving...

I've removed a bunch of these eyesores. I respect the feelings of those who lost loved ones, but it is inappropriate and illegal for them to litter the roadways with religious icons and plastic plants.

In Colorado, it is legal to remove this junk - the Supreme Court said so.

DenverShark

My opinion? They have to go.

I've removed a few (won't say where) but rest assured that they had long since been ignored. I can't remember where I read it, but some states will let the memorials remain for a while (a year, maybe?) as long as they're being maintained.

I operate on the principal that the memorials are ill-conceived and only benefit the family of the victim(s). I've never looked at a roadside memorial more than once and thought that anyone else would care as much or more than they did. Once you notice it the second time, it's relevance to you diminishes.

That said, I would think that most enforcement agencies (big group there) would probably shy away from the issue so as not to seem insensitive. Anyone watching me remove one may well think that it's my job, or I'm related to the victim(s). And that's exactly what I want them to think.

If the family cares enough to put the memorial back up, then I would think it would be wise to give it a wide berth for a while. Tragedy aside, these still have no place on public land.

=======================
Beastie

This custom was brought into the US by a certain ethnic group sometime around the late 70's or early 80's.
Up until that time you hardly ever saw a "venerated" oject in the ROW's.

The custom expanded when MADD approached the various state legislatures. They requested that venerated objects be allowed to stand for "xx" number of days after someone was killed in an auto accident by a drunken driver.

In theory and in TX, the TxDOT supposedly allows for the venerated objects to stand for 30 days. This has caused the cities to basically turn their heads when one happens to be placed at a busy intersecton in town.

There is one not too far from my house that's been up over five years and a new set of artifical flowers are placed about every six months. CE indicated they were told to "leave it alone".

In all due respect to all of our memmber sharks, CAUSS can't be all things to all people. Regardless of which position one takes, Venerated objects are not in the Scope of CAUSS and we strongly recomomned you take this issue up with your local city council or town supervisors.

GW

It's funny we were discussing it last night. Last night my son asked if someone was buried there, and I told him no.

So whoever said it was morbid is right.

You know what else is funny, lots of people who put up those crosses haven't stepped foot in a church since they were a teenager. They don't want anything to do with God while they are here, but want to spend eternity worshiping him after they kick the bucket? Go figure.

Just reading this thread, I have concluded what type of people
are here, and all of my assumptions were right. You are a bunch of vigilantes. You are a bunch of bittermen. You have NO right to take these down. WHO ARE THAY SCAMMING? You all have found a cause. I was begining to be swayed toward your side, but after reading this entire thread, and your selfrightous attitudes, most of you you are a bunch of jerks.

Now in conclusion, my last post was deleted without any warning, I guess I touched a nerve and you cant deal with it. I tell you what, I will spread the word about causs, Lost cause that is, and direct people right to this thread.

Now you will go away in denial after reading this post and conclude that I am a sign spammer, I am not,
But most of you all are a bunch of delusional, vigilante, old bittermen. How can anyone conclude otherwise.

My last post was looking for anyone, just anyone here who doesn't think that removong these crosses by vivilantes is absurd. It was deleted without warning.

If you delete this one I will be back.... otherwise this is my last post here, just argueing and being involved with most of you all is too icky. Its not conducive to a happy spiritual well being.



>Roadside crosses are usually put up because somebody died
>there due to a drunk driver accident. Sometimes the crosses
>are decorated with all sorts of stuff like artificial
>flowers, teddy bears, etc. and mini-shrines. These are put
>up without permission on public road r-o-w's. They belong
>in a cemetary not on a roadside. They're morbid. They're
>distracting to drivers. They're ugly. I've removed quite a
>lot of them right along with all the other bandit signs.
>Truly, you can't say these should be let alone.
>
>Take a
>look.
>
>Comments?

I have to admit guys. I came to this site after reading the story in the Katy paper.

Based on what's happened in Crawford with the 800 white crosses and the man from Waco who mowed several of them down with his truck, I'd like to preempt the angry mob who will no doubt show up in this thread by pointing out a couple of things.

1) It appears that this is a matter of personal politics and not related to the legality of the roadside crosses and their placement into the R.O.W.

And...

2) He was not charged with anything more than criminal mischief.

It's going to be interesting to see what, if anything, occurs from this. I think the lack of any substantial charge other than criminal mischief says a lot. I wonder if the protesters were fined for placing them? Probably not.

Anyone involved in the enforcement side down that way care to comment?

=======================
Beastie

"http://www.madd.org/news/0,1056,2611,00.html
You were saying???"

That your information is extremely dated. 1995/1998 vs 2001.

For a clear and concise ruling specific to Colorado, Please refer to the case of:
The people of the state of Colorado, Plaintiff, v. Rodney Lyle Scott, Defendant.

County Court, County of Adams, State of Colorado Criminal Action No. 00-M-2096
The hearing in this matter commenced on the 5th day of April 2001, before the honorable Jeffery L. Romeo, Judge of the County court, Division VI.

The last sentence in the last paragraph of the ruling reads:

“Therefore, the Court finds as a matter of law, this roadside memorial is not a venerated object. Therefore, the Court must grant judgment of acquittal”

A link to the web page for the entire ruling may be seen at this site:
http://ffrf.org/fttoday/2001/junejuly01/colorado.html

An interesting approach to roadside memorials can be seen on the Florida Turnpike. Someone, the state of Florida, the Turnpike Commission, or whomever, has apparantly authorized a uniform sign that is placed outside of the guardrails, with the name of the victim and date of death. At least that's what they seem to be. Last year I saw a couple of people, presumably loved ones, tending to a pair of them.

No opinion here, just an observation.

Yes, I have better things to do...but I make time for my community.

<<Take a look.>> (at the problem)
http://www.southwestern.edu/~bednarb/roadsidememorials/overlooking.html

I looked, and it’s not appropriate.

News Article: 6-30-08
http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/731147.html

Crash victims’ memories live on with an admonition

By ALEX BRANCHabranch@star-telegram.com


FORT WORTH — Austin Doak’s family will never forget the night he was killed by a wrong-way driver. For the next year, motorists on Airport Freeway will remember, too.

The Texas Department of Transportation last week installed a sign in memory of the 28-year-old near the spot he died May 9, 2004.

"Please don’t drink and drive," it says under Doak’s name..................

The sign is part of a state program that allows families of people killed in alcohol- or drug-related accidents to purchase memorial signs along state highways. For $300 each, the signs are displayed for one year.

- ---------------- ---------------


<<Roadside crosses are usually put up because somebody died there due to a drunk driver accident. Sometimes the crosses are decorated with all sorts of stuff like artificial flowers, teddy bears, etc. and mini-shrines. These are put up without permission on public road r-o-w's. They belong in a cemetary not on a roadside. They're morbid. They're distracting to drivers. They're ugly.>>

I agree.

Under the new plan, if a person dies on the highway by a sober driver, they can't buy a sign.

I hope other States don’t follow this Texas example. A political auction group legislated for this law. It's a bad advertising plan. Please help keep our roads SPAM free.

What am I missing?