# Strange Road Signs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 28, 2000, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764 "2000-10-28T20:25:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zarathustra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/898d66/32.png) [@Zarathustra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zarathustra)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/21 "2000-10-29T03:54:34Z")
Well, festiva76, as I said–I could speak from some personal knowledge, but that might not be very wise or healthy. I can repeat some stories I’ve seen elsewhere on the Internet, which to my eye appear consistent with the facts as I know them. For example, a woman out in California posted this on a site she runs (named Barbara, I think–I don’t have the link handy: > [@](#): > > I met a man last night that used to go to my church. Brandon moved last year before I started attending. But several people, including the pastor, say that Brandon is totally honest and does not “go off half-cocked.” > > Brandon told me that his wife received a call from her cousin last week. The cousin lives in Ohio and her husband is a truck driver for Wal-Mart. It seems he was driving a load early last week and stopped at a border weigh station. The inspector wanted to know what was in the load, and the driver indicated he did not know. He merely picked up the trailer and was transporting it to another state. > > The inspector opened the trailer and saw hundreds of uniform boxes. He asked what was in the boxes and the driver again stated that he didn’t know. So the inspector opened a box. > > In the box were about a hundred large (about 2’x3’) plastic signs that stated: “This City Under Martial Law” in bright colors. It said something about the federal gov’t and had what looked like a legal reference (the driver claims to know nothing about legal issues, but he thought it was a reference to a law or an Executive Order or something). > > There were several hundred boxes of these signs. The driver doesn’t know what Wal-Mart has to do with the signs. But he DID state that Wal-Mart sometimes hires out space on their trucks if space is available. I might suggest that maybe the federal gov’t was using Wal-Mart trucks to keep a low profile. > > Anyway, the info came to me by way of a long route. But the sources are “innocent bystanders” with no history of right-wing reactionary politics. The driver was married to a woman who was related to Brandon’s wife. Brandon swears the info is accurate and that he spoke with the driver himself to confirm what was passed between the respective wives. The driver claims there were hundreds of boxes, each one with at least a hundred large signs declaring martial law. > > I thought this was worth passing along. Especially since the federal gov’t is telling us (Wednesday issue of USA Today and today’s press releases) that we have nothing to fear. ---
**Author:** ![festiva76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@festiva76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/festiva76)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/22 "2000-10-29T03:59:52Z")
So assuming this martial law issue was true, what’s the deal with it? Was it in preparation for Y2K or something? This just keeps getting stranger by the minute. OK, so the story is, the signs were changed from martial law to STA A ACCESS? What’s the correlation? ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/23 "2000-10-29T04:59:49Z")
:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Beruang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@Beruang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beruang)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/24 "2000-10-29T07:08:59Z")
festiva, my friend, we are all kidding. And anyone who isn’t kidding is posting in the wrong forum. ---
**Author:** ![Carina42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Carina42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carina42)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/25 "2000-10-29T09:38:59Z")
Before the black helicopter lands on my front lawn, I have to nitpick Zarathusta here… \>\>The inspector wanted to know what was in the load, and the driver indicated he did not know. He merely picked up the trailer and was transporting it to another state\<\< I actually did drive a truck OTR, and occasionally picked up Walmart/McRory’s trailers. Now, there is a detailed bill of lading with EVERY load, which the driver just has to hand over when asked, so this story sounds made up before I got to the part about the martial law signs. This is like some of the discussions on the old Art Bell website! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![AKAmame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@AKAmame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AKAmame)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/26 "2000-10-29T10:14:18Z")
Well, if it was here (Australia, NSW) it would most likely be the State Transit Authority, ie the bus, train and ferry mob. They do tend to be picky about access to roads and other forms of public transport. WAG, but maybe it is the type or height of tractor/trailor combo that is allowed on the road - ie STA A can use the road, STA B can’t. At the risk of intruding a branch of practicality into an otherwise twig-hanging discussion, why not ring the local roads board? Either the Federal or local Authorities have to OK the signs, so should be able to give you an answer. (But not on a Friday afternoon - callers with unusual queries are more likely to be assumed to be - ummmm how shall I say it nicely - out to lunch?) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/27 "2000-10-29T20:54:52Z")
Look, folks, fun as this all is, if you want to discuss the Illuminati and the Tri-Lat conquering the world via road signs, do it over in MPSIMS, OK? This is GQ, and the OP asked a perfectly legitimate General Question, which has gotten exactly three serious answers thus far in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/28 "2000-10-29T21:50:31Z")
The UL that **Zarathustra** is spreading [is debunked at the Snopes site.](http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/martial.htm) It’s actually a good read, and I recommend it. Well, I looked up STA using the handy [Acronym Finder](http://www.acronymfinder.com/) and my heart sank. It lists 26 meanings, incl. State Transit Authority, but not including Stormwater Treatment Area, which was my preferred explanation. But just because it’s not on the list doesn’t mean it wasn’t what the sign was referring to. ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/29 "2000-10-29T23:05:13Z")
Could this be it? [http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/erd/ecp/pubacc.html](http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/erd/ecp/pubacc.html) It’s apparently something to do with saving the Everglades, but beyond that I couldn’t help you. -Lil ---
**Author:** ![festiva76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e8cbc/32.png) [@festiva76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/festiva76)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/30 "2000-10-29T23:07:43Z")
I finally became frustrated with all the mononic explanations that were thrown at me, so I sent an e-mail to the state DOT. Perhaps I can get an honest answer there. Thanks to those who actually did try to answer the question. I will think twice before seeking answers in this forum in the future. ---
**Author:** ![aenea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@aenea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aenea)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2000, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/31 "2000-10-29T23:47:33Z")
[slight hijack] Back to the OP kind-of. I see these signs on the local hwy that say “Beginning Global Transpark Developement Zone”. If you go far enough along the hwy, you get to another sign saying that zone is ended. Any ideas what that one means?[/slight hijack] \*Aenea, who drives along looking at the signs too. ---
**Author:** ![system\_hoser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9adbd/32.png) [@system\_hoser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system_hoser)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/32 "2000-10-30T00:39:09Z")
Sorry. It’s just a joke. I have no idea what those signs are for. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/33 "2000-10-30T01:36:09Z")
Just a quick note: I live in the southeast, in Southwest Florida, and I have yet to see these signs anywhere. I did see a stupid sign today, though: “In Lee County / Dial 9-1-1 / For Emergencies.” Um, duh? Is there some county somewhere in this country where 911 is NOT the emergency number or something? Perhaps I should ask this question in a new topic… so don’t hijack this one, please! Don’t wanna get caught hijacking threads… UN might come and kill me don’tcha know. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/34 "2000-10-30T01:45:32Z")
No, No, it is the Illum… that come and kill… ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/35 "2000-10-30T02:04:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SanibelMan \* > \*\*Is there some county somewhere in this country where 911 is NOT the emergency number or something? > \*\* As a matter of fact there are places where 911 is not the emergency number. The last I heard my town is not scheduled to get 911 until next year. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/36 "2000-10-30T02:55:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SanibelMan \* > **Just a quick note: I live in the southeast, in Southwest Florida, and I have yet to see these signs anywhere. I did see a stupid sign today, though: “In Lee County / Dial 9-1-1 / For Emergencies.” Um, duh? Is there some county somewhere in this country where 911 is NOT the emergency number or something?..** As **bibliophage** mentioned, but also… Remeber too, _many_ tourists from other countries visit Florida and may not know the 911 emergency number system. IIRC, Australia uses 111 (or some such 3-digit number). Add to that 411 for information, 611 for service complaints and all the other X11 numbers and it can get confusing for visitors. Short-term cellular phone rentals are available (usable in the US only, popular with out-of-country visitors), so it is important that people know what to dial, rather than wasting time trying to find the local police or fire department number in an emergency. In addition, there are signs (on the Ronald Reagan [formerly known as the Florida] Turnpike, for example): ‘Dial \*FHP for Florida Highway Patrol’. (However, I have found this less than reliable -“Your call cannot be completed as dialed”. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Zarathustra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/898d66/32.png) [@Zarathustra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zarathustra)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/37 "2000-10-30T10:56:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by festiva76 \* > I will **think twice** before seeking answers in this forum in the future. Careful, don’t strain yourself. Personally, I prefer the UN explanation. It’s just one of the many things that makes my world so much more exciting than yours. Zarathustra ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/38 "2000-10-30T13:25:31Z")
Here’s a hint: If the story starts with something like “My wife’s cousin’s hairdresser says her nephew knows a guy who …”, like most of these seem to, then be skeptical. Ever wonder why you almost never hear directly from the people involved, and when you do, they’re obviously nuts? ---
**Author:** ![hardhead365](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/71c47a/32.png) [@hardhead365](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardhead365)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2000, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/39 "2000-10-30T15:23:13Z")
Geez, STA is Surface Transportation Act, and STA A Access is governmentese for “Truck Route”. ☹ This isn’t the clown forum ---
**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2000, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764/40 "2000-10-31T02:10:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zarathustra \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by festiva76 \* > > I will **think twice** before seeking answers in this forum in the future. > > Careful, don’t strain yourself. > > Personally, I prefer the UN explanation. It’s just one of the many things that makes my world so much more exciting than yours. > > Zarathustra \*\* Is this how you prove you’re not a newbie any more? By insulting other newbies? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-road-signs/38764.md?page=3)