Frustrated resident installs illegal stop signs after city ignores safety pleas
A 44-year-old El Segundo resident has been arrested for installing unauthorised stop signs at a dangerous intersection. Joseph Brandlin took action after years of concerns about speeding drivers near Acacia Park, where children often play. He now faces charges of theft, vandalism, and interfering with traffic control devices.
The incident has sparked community support, with residents rallying behind his efforts to improve safety.
Brandlin was arrested in the early hours of March 14 after placing commercial-grade stop signs at the corner of Loma Vista Street and Acacia Avenue. He had spent around £1,000 on the materials, frustrated by what he described as years of inaction from the city. Despite repeated complaints, no official measures had been taken to address the hazardous conditions.
Just three days later, Brandlin presented 73 letters from neighbouring households at a City Council meeting. The letters demanded either the installation of official stop signs or a transparent review of the intersection's safety. Many residents confirmed long-standing worries about reckless driving in the area, particularly near the park where families gather. City officials have yet to respond to Brandlin's requests or the community's concerns. While no similar cases of residents taking traffic safety into their own hands have been recorded in Los Angeles over the past two years, local support for Brandlin's actions continues to grow.
Brandlin remains charged with grand theft, vandalism, and tampering with traffic devices. The case has highlighted ongoing frustrations over the intersection's safety, with no resolution from authorities so far. Residents now await a response from the city as concerns about speeding and child safety persist.
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