Chicago Suburb Ends Humorous Stop-Sign Campaign

OAK LAWN, Ill. – Drivers passing through a suburb of Chicago will still have to stop, but they'll no longer need to do so "in the name of love."

Oak Lawn, Ill., has removed comical remarks in octagonal shapes it placed under stop signs in an effort to get motorists to obey the law.

Mayor Dave Heilmann said the Illinois Department of Transportation determined the signs violated the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. He said had Oak Lawn not removed the signs, the city could have lost federally funded projects.

• Click here for photos of the stop signs.

The public safety campaign to cut down on speeding through stop signs began in September 2007. Slogans such as "right there pilgrim," "and smell the roses," "do not pass go" and "means that you aren't moving" were placed near or under 50 stop signs.

At the time, Heilmann said he thought the remarks would get motorists to pause, if for nothing else, to read the phrases.

Heilmann says IDOT's objection meant he had to junk $1,700 worth of signs.

The cost was covered by the company 3M, which planned to use them in promotional brochures, according to the city's winter newsletter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.