A sign like this once was defaced last month along I-20. (photo by jimmywayne via flickr)
It was cleaned off after crews discovered the racist symbols on March 19th on a sign along I-20 on the border between Georgia and Alabama.
Officials say it was an act of defacing government property. The offense is considered a felony and carries a potential sentence of 1 to 5 years in prison.
A DOT spokesman says maintenance crews regularly check for graffiti. But due to budget cuts there are fewer crews on the roads giving vandals a leg up.
Vandals and thieves are also targeting the steel covers of storm pipes along highways. Officials say about 300 of them have been stolen in recent months.
There are no suspects at this time.
