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Seattle man's 'speed trap' warning sign lands him costly ticket
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Daniel Gehlke of Washington state says he plans to fight a $138 ticket for holding up a sign that said, "Cops ahead – Stop at Sign and Lights."
Gehkle used a black permanent marker to write on a plastic lid to make the sign.
"I think that the problem with my case is I interrupted their revenue for the city, and they were like, 'OK, we need to stop this guy,'" said Gehlke, who was ticketed last Wednesday in Seattle.
Gehlke added, "I saw an injustice, so I thought I needed to come out and warn people that something was happening. I thought it was a problem."
Seattle police disagree, saying the sign was in clear violation of city traffic laws.
"It could be viewed as a traffic control device that could be misleading to drivers/motorists. It could maybe cause confusion," said Seattle police spokesman Sgt. Sean Whitcomb.
According to Seattle City Municipal Code 11.50.560 - Forbidden devices, "No person shall erect or maintain at or near a street or alley any structure, sign, light or device that is visible from a street or alley and simulating any directional, warning, or regulatory sign or likely to be mistaken for such a sign or bearing any such words as 'danger,' 'stop,' 'slow,' 'turn,' 'impound,' or similar words, figures, or directions likely to be construed as giving warning to or regulating traffic ..."
Gehlke said his homemade sign wasn't meant to look like any type of city sign. "This does not look like an official sign in any capacity," he said.
He has marked out the words "Stop at Sign and Lights" and said he will continue to hold up the sign to warn other drivers as he feels needed.
