University of Virginia Library

Students Fined
For Removal
Of Road Signs

By Neill Alford III
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Five University students charged with
removing signs from county roads were
fined $400 each in Albemarle County
court Wednesday.

Lawrence O. McLand, Arthur K.
Thorn, Thomas D. Mercurio, Carl D.
Sheffield, and Robert H. Downer entered
pleas of guilty to the charge.

Due to the students' cooperation
in recovering other signs, Judge Stuart F.
Head, lowered their fines to $35 each.

After their arrest early last month,
area law enforcement officials initiated plan to
recover other highway signs taken during the
past year.

The plan allowed persons to return signs
voluntarily to the police during a two-week
period without danger of full prosecution.

Steve Musulin, a State Police officer, traced
several signs taken in the last two months to
one of the five students. The students agreed to
cooperate with local, University and state
police and the Virginia Highway Department in
alerting others to the opportunity to return
signs.

County Commonwealth's attorney Downing
L. Smith described the students' attitude as
"very cooperative" and commended them on
their efforts in the campaign.

Mr. Smith emphasized that many signs are
taken as a prank or for souvenirs, but that their
absence may be responsible for many traffic
accidents.

He explained that taking highway markers
may legally be classified as larceny, but that
returning signs during the amnesty allowed
persons to be free of the risk of receiving a
larceny conviction on their record.

Mr. Smith commented that the effort
therefore, benefited not only drivers and police
but also the offenders themselves. He said that
another period of relaxed prosecution was
being offered at this time.

Mr. Musulin said at the trial, that about 60
signs were returned during the two-week
period.