Q&A on the News

Q: How does the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) determine which businesses to put on the interstate highway exit signs? Do the businesses have to pay? If so, how much? What is the revenue derived from these signs?

—Dave Pavesic, Woodstock

A: Businesses must meet certain criteria to be a part of the Georgia Logo Signing Program, which is a service for drivers that provides directional information for businesses and attractions.

Businesses that offer gas, food or lodging, or camping sites and attractions, are eligible to be included on the signs along the main travel route and one on the exit ramp indicating distance and direction to its location, Bill Jones, the general manager of Georgia Logos, which oversees the program, told Q&A on the News in an email. They must be “within a certain distance from the main travel route, be open certain hours” and pay an annual fee of $1,200 per direction, among other criteria. GDOT receives $3.335 million a year from this program.

Q: I was watching the old Rambo movie, “First Blood,” and I noticed that one of the deputies is a red-headed kid that looks a lot like a young David Caruso of “CSI: Miami.” Is this correct or quite a stretch of the imagination?

—Donald Varn, Conyers

A: Caruso played Mitch, a deputy in "First Blood," the 1982 film that introduced the Sylvester Stallone character named John Rambo. Caruso is best known for his role of John Kelly "NYPD Blue" from 1993-94 and as Horatio Caine on "CSI: Miami" from 2002-12.

Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).