Special Signs

Special Sign Requests

No Outlet

For information on placing a "No Outlet" sign, please contact the City Engineer's office.

Child at Play

The City does not encourage the installation of "Slow Children" or "Children at Play" signs for the following reasons:

• The Traffic Control Devices Handbookfrom the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) states:

  “Caution-Children at Play or Slow Children signs should not be used since they may encourage children to play in the street and may encourage parents to be less vigilant.”

  These signs can give parents a false sense of security, leading them to allow children to play in the street.
• Motorists should expect children to be present in all residential areas. The absence of signs on certain streets may imply otherwise.
• These signs have no legal authority, are unenforceable, and serve as additional roadside obstacles for pedestrians and vehicles.
• Nonstandard signs may suggest that the City approves of streets as playgrounds, potentially increasing liability. Nearly 30% of tort cases filed against roadway authorities involve signage. Installing signs that do not align with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) may increase liability if an incident occurs.
• These signs do not provide guidance on a safe driving speed.
• Studies have shown that “Children at Play” signs do not reduce traffic speeds or make drivers more observant.

Under Minnesota State Statutes, alley speed limits are set at 10 mph. However, speed limit signs in alleys are often ineffective. Studies show that the majority of alley speeders are local residents. The most effective way to reduce speeds in alleys and residential roadways—without altering the street design—is through enforcement.