• Stop and think before stealing a street sign.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Stealing street signs may seem like innocent fun, but it is an illegal act. Street sign theft can lead to fines, incarceration or both. The consequences for stealing a street sign vary from state to state. Anyone tempted to steal a street sign should think twice about the effects it has on our society. More than simple decoration, street signs guide the rules of the road and should not be tampered with under any circumstance.
  
  

Personal Consequences

• Anyone who is convicted of stealing a street sign will be fined. These fines will vary based upon the state laws that apply. Under the guidelines of the Code of Alabama Section 13A-8-72, those who are convicted of stealing a street sign will be fined a maximum of $50. If the stolen street sign results in damages that exceed $2,500, the person will be convicted of a Class C felony. Damages can occur if the missing street sign causes an accident. The legal guardians of a minor who steals a street sign in Alabama will be held liable for the fines and court costs attached.
  
  

City Consequences

• Approximately 1,730 street signs were stolen in Columbia, Missouri between November 2007 and November 2008. The Public Works Street Division reports that the city spent $35,000 to replace the stolen signs. In 2002, $30,000 was spent to replace street signs stolen in Nova Scotia according to the minister of transportation. San Diego, California replaced an average of 300 street signs a month in 2002 with an average cost of $120 each.
  
  

Tragic Consequences

• One of the wost consequences of stealing a street sign is causing the death of innocent civilians. In June of 1997, three defendants received 15 years each in a Florida state prison after they stole a stop sign from an intersection. The stolen stop sign led to the death of three teenagers who plowed into an 8-ton truck while crossing the intersection. Under Florida law, all three defendants had to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence, or 13 years each. County Circuit Judge Bob Mitchum was quoted as saying, "There are no winners in this case." The defendants, who admitted to stealing the stop sign, were all convicted of manslaughter.