NorthTX

NorthTx, while I'm by no means an authority on this topic,if putting up a memorial along a road side gives comfort to a grieving family then so be it. As far as any law about limiting these memorials I heard that there was some type fo legislation about it being 2 weeks no more.

I have seen several that keep being renewed or so it seems

And it makes me wonder why someone would perpetuate something like that

From what I know, most cities only allow these road side memorials if the person died due to a drunk driver. They are suppose to be so many feet from the road way and not a distraction to the drivers. Some cities have a time limit on how long the memorial can stand.
I do know of a few that the graves are visited at least weekly.

There was a memorial in a field by my house. The teenager was actually murdered in a fast food resturant parking lot and dragged to the field. That memorial was up for about two years and the owner of the field took it down a couple of different times but someone kept putting it back up. I understand leaving it for a short period of time but I think that there should be a time limit especially on the freeway memorials.

On one hand, I understand that some people set up roadside memorials and they stay there for a very long time to become weather worn. On the other hand, there have been some truly catastophic accidents where entire families were destroyed. I can't help but think that the surviving members drive by there and remember the event. It must be like pulling an old bandaid off-painful. Perhaps the families mean them to stand as a cautionary tale. At any rate, it's a small price to pay to allow them to remember their lost ones. I don't think it's that much of an inconvenience. I do like TXdot's solution and I think that is a meaningful way to remember people. Sadly, most drunk drivers won't read those signs. Maybe that should be their job-making those signs.

It is my understanding that if you have a loved one killed by a drunk driver like my family did that memorials may be put up at the crash site and they are to be left there.

That is what we were told when my six year cousin was killed. She had one for a while. Until some idiot took it.

Having been through this with my family, I believe if it is what they want then they should be able to do it.

I don't know if you all are familiar with the "Shattered Dreams" programs in this area. The DFW area is one of the leading promoters of this program which graphically shows high school kids the sad results of drunk driving. My kids participated when they were in high school and it's been done at the school where I work. What happens is that local emergency first responders and a group of students produce and present a film that is shown with reckless behavior that is common to teens. Then a fatality, sometime multifatality accident is staged with the "dead" being removed from class. It's a very moving event and I think it at least causes a few kids to think. If you don't have this in your area, ask about it.

TTB,
shattered dreams is fabulous!!!! they usually bring the juniors & seniors (the week before prom) out to the "crash site" where careflight comes and lands in the parking lot of our high school. my daughter has participated in this for a couple of years. i actually had to write a letter to the "drunken teen" who killed my daughter for this(hypothetically sp?). it was read out loud in school. My daughter said kids were crying afterwards. it was very very difficult and from the heart. but i knew i could potentially save someone's life. i truly think shattered dreams makes an impact on kids' choices...and if it saves just one...it's worth it!

I have seen some memorials that took so much time and money, I guess that is what bothers me. For some, I guess that brings comfort, but that is not how I would want my loved ones to memorialze me. I would rather they spend their time and money on a charity. Helping others to avoid my fate would mean so much more.

They are a distraction to me as well. There are 5 crosses on I20 where the family was killed when the father ran into the back of a truck. That always pulls my attention away from my driving. There should be a time limit for them to be there.

Truebule I have heard of the shattered dreams program and I think it is excellent.

They go all out to make it real and they do an awesome job. In fact Heather Hays sent me a copy of it when they did it at Poteet High School.

If it makes one teenager stop and think then it is worth it.