Mich. county wants no-hitchhiker signs to hit road

[March 19, 2009]  JACKSON, Mich. (AP) -- Jackson County officials say signs warning motorists not to pick up hitchhikers give the wrong impression about the area, which is home to some state prisons.

The county Board of Commissioners called Tuesday for the Michigan Department of Transportation to remove the signs, which were posted in the early 1980s.

Sheriff Dan Heyns says: "Let's roll out a welcome mat instead of signs that scare the heck out of people."

The state Department of Corrections says the signs were posted after there were a number of escapes from area prison camps, where prisoners worked in unfenced fields. The problem has since subsided.

The Department of Transportation says it will consider removing signs once it gets a formal request.

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Information from: Jackson Citizen Patriot, http://www.mlive.com/jackson/

[Associated Press]

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