Not So Fast On ‘Slow’ Signs, Parents Plead But ‘Slow, Children At Play’ Signs They Put Up Will Be Removed By County

Spokane County crews are targeting a tool some parents use to protect kids who play in the street: illegal signs that read, “Slow, Children at Play.”

“We’ve taken down probably half a dozen last week alone,” and may remove four more this week, said engineer Bob Brueggeman, adding that the signs are unusually common this year.

Posted by parents, but never by the state or county, the signs are illegal whether they’re hand-painted or store-bought, Brueggeman said. County crews remove them when they have time.

The state law is intended to ensure that street signs are consistent and don’t become so numerous that drivers stop paying them heed. It bans people from posting any nonapproved traffic signs, even on their own land.

Brueggeman said the “Slow, Children” signs are redundant because drivers should know to watch for kids in the residential areas.

Tom Bos, a father of five, calls that reasoning “ridiculous hooey.”

“If that’s redundant, let’s go take down all the (legal) signs around the schools because only an idiot would think no kids are going to be around a school,” said Bos.

Bos and his Colbert neighbors posted four professionally painted “Slow, Children” signs about seven years ago, after waving shovels threateningly failed to slow speeders on Michael Road.

The signs worked, he said.

Last week, county crews notified the Michael Road neighbors that their signs will be removed. Identical notices are being slapped on illegal signs all over the county, including some that remind drivers of the speed limit, designate bike paths and attempt to reserve streetside parking, said Brueggeman.

Removing the signs from public land is fine, county Commissioner Phil Harris said when Bos complained during Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting. But Harris told Brueggeman not to mess with signs on private property, regardless of the law.

“I was startled that we’re even taking the time to talk about all this,” Harris said.

The city of Spokane removes illegal signs “on a case-by-case basis,” said traffic engineer Don Ramsey.

In 1994, the city ordered an Indian Trail man to remove the “Slow - Kids at play” sign from his front yard, saying it was a nuisance. Former City Manager Roger Crum directed staff not to remove the sign after it became the subject of media stories, Ramsey said.

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