Man hit with huge ‘nonsense’ fine after holding sign that sent simple warning to other drivers
Niamh Shackleton
Featured Image Credit: ABC News
A man who thought he was doing everyone a favor ended up being fined for his actions.
Most drivers try and help each other out, a perfect example being flagging someone down to tell them their car taillight is out.
And this is the kind of thing that Daniel Gehlke did back in 2015, but he ended up being slapped with a $138 penalty instead.
All those years ago, Daniel, from Seattle, Washington, spotted a speed trap up ahead and took it upon himself to make a homemade sign. The sign read: "Cops ahead! Stop at sign and light!"
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Daniel was simply doing his fellow drivers a solid, right? Well, a police officer came up to him on the day in question and told him that his sign was giving orders to others, noting the 'stop at sign and light' part of his sign.
He went on to scribble out that part of it and continued to hold it up.
In video footage taken at the time, a cop who introduced himself as Officer Elliott said that the sign was 'against the law' and asked to see Daniel's ID.
After the officer filled out copious amounts of paperwork, he went on to tell Daniel that he was citied for 'Forbidden Device'.
As per Washington State Legislature: "It is unlawful to erect or maintain at or near a city street, county road, or state highway any structure, sign, or device: Visible from a city street, county road, or state highway and simulating any directional, warning, or danger sign or light likely to be mistaken for such a sign or bearing any such words as 'danger', 'stop', 'slow', 'turn', or similar words, figures, or directions likely to be construed as giving warning to traffic."
As a result of this, Daniel was ordered to pay $138. However, he didn't take the penalty lying down and took the matter to court.
Defending their decision to fine him, Sgt. Sean Whitcomb, a spokesman for the Seattle Police Department said, as per KOMO News: "The specific issue is that he was giving instructions to motorists through the words that he chose, like 'slow down' or 'caution'. That's exactly the issue. It's the words that give people orders referring traffic."
Speaking to the news outlet after getting the fine, Daniel argued: "I am a believer that the Constitution, the Bill of Rights are there specifically so they can't be modified or restricted. This clearly is not a stop sign."
Instead of the language being used on the sign, he believed that he was being targeted because of his intentions of trying to help others swerve a speeding ticket.
Ultimately, the case against Daniel was thrown out and he didn't have to pay the $138 fine.