Who Edits Sign Makers?

As a writer and an accidental editor I know the benefit of a good editor. I was an art major. As a blogger I have no editor. I don’t even have a proof reader, or reread this blog myself before it is published. But blogging for me is a stream of consciousness at the end of my day and not meant to inform people about important of life saving information. I apologize now for any spelling or grammar mistakes, not for any opinions.

I am a stickler for correct grammar and spelling in signage. Last week Russ and I went to Carrboro for dinner. Russ dropped me off and went to park. After dinner I walked back to the car with him. He was parked right in front of this sign that read. “No Parking. End Permitted parking.”

“What exactly does that sign mean?” I asked Russ. Since Russ was parked before the sign I knew he was not in the No Parking area, but was the spot where he was parked one that needed a “Permit,” or was it a spot where parking was Permitted? If it was the former and he got a ticket for not having a permit, I felt like one could easily argue that the sign says the parking is allowed where he was since allowed means the same thing as permitted.

Thankfully, for some poor magistrate or low level judge, we did not get a ticket because I would have loved to go in and argue our case with that sign as evidence. I looked around to see if there was an additional signs that mentioned Permits being needed to park and did not see one.

Back to my title. Who is it that checks the grammar on government made signs to ensure that the meaning is clear? There must be someone at the federal level and the state level, but I am not sure at the city level there is someone double checking the sign makers. Maybe there is a book of standard signs, but if there is I would think this one would be in there. Well, I say that, but since I am unsure of what that sign really means, it might be hard to lookup.

Am I the only one who thinks about these things? Please tell me I am not alone. Mary Mundy I’m looking at you.