Signing and striping issues account for a large majority of inquiries to the Transportation Division. Signs and striping are generally used to convey certain regulations, warning and guidance that could not otherwise be made clearly understandable. Ordinarily, signs and striping are not needed to confirm rules of the road. Excessive use of signs should be avoided.
- Signs are classified into four general categories:
- Regulatory signs give notice of traffic laws or regulations.
- Warning signs call attention to conditions on, or adjacent to, a highway or street that are potentially hazardous to traffic operations.
- Guide signs show route designations, destinations, directions, distances, etc.
- Construction signs provide notice or direction within a construction zone.
California Vehicle Code (CVC) section 21401 provides that only official traffic control devices that confirm to the uniform standards and specifications promulgated by CalTrans shall be placed upon a street. The Transportation Division has the responsibility of determining the appropriateness of a given sign installation. CVC Section 21467 provides for removal of any unauthorized sign placed on a street by a private organization or individual.
For example, a common request is for a "Children At Play" sign. The Transportation Division will not install "Children At Play" signs, because they are nonstandard signs and not approved by federal and state transportation departments.
