MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - State representative Fred Durhal III and others introduced a traffic bill to the State Criminal Justice Committee. The bill would penalize those who destroy or remove road signs.

Traffic control devices such as stop signs are very important for the safety of drivers and the community, said Meridian Township Lieutenant Greg Frenger.

The House Bill 4187 add new penalty for such behaviors as damaging, destroying, injuring, defacing which includes graffiti, and removing traffic control devices placed by the state or local government.

"In the past, we have had that from time to time, where people deface or spray paint on a sign or remove signs from intersections. this new law will address that. currently it's a misdemeanor, and a 90-day misdemeanor to do these things. but it will step up those penalties. if they are subsequent events, if they do it more than once. the penalties are increased. that is a useful way of discouraging that behavior," said Frenger.

The current penalty for such behavior is a 90-day imprisonment or a 100-dollar fine.

The new bill, if passed, would extend the imprisonment to one year and step up the fine to $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second offense, and up to $10,000 for a subsequent offense.

Lieutenant Frenger said the police department have seen road signs pulled down or destroyed in some game days when crowds got out of control.