Hacked electronic highway construction signs in the Dallas had some amusing — and politically divisive — messages for early morning commuters today.
Pranksters Broke Into Construction Signs To Change Messages
Early this morning, pranksters broke into three Texas Department of Transportation signs along I-30. Around 4 a.m., transportation officials started receiving calls from motorists about the quirky sign messages.
One of the hacked signs read “Donald Trump is a shape shifting lizard.” Another was changed to read “Bernie for President.” Yet another proclaimed “Go back home. Work is cancelled.”
It isn’t possible for the signs to be changed remotely, according to TxDOT. That means that the prankster had to physically break into the sign to change it.
One of the signs was reportedly also hacked over the weekend to read “Party hardy y’all!”
TxDOT Warns That Hacked Highway Signs Prank Could Have Turned Dangerous
A TxDOT spokesman said that the prank could have had dangerous consequences, as the hacked messages bumped the lane closure information that the signs were supposed to display. TxDOT was also concerned that the signs could contribute to distracted driving crashes.
TxDOT warns that there could be legal consequences if they catch the prankster.
I’m not sure this is what @TxDOT meant for this road sign to say… #Dallas @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/4iPldtM9gJ
— Tim Ciesco (@TimCiescoNBC5) May 31, 2016
TXDot signs hacked, too funny…. pic.twitter.com/DjIc4yMvpk
— Jersey Girl in Texas (@jopoleski) May 31, 2016
Sources:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
WQAD