Random Observations

The CALTRANS "Running Family" sign just south of the border checkpoint on Interstate 5 near Camp Pendleton, in San Diego County, California. After numerous fatalities of people attempting to evade border security, especially at this most-deadly location where people would run for the beach, the signs were installed in the 1990's to warn motorists to watch for pedestrians fleeing from vehicles before reaching the checkpoint. The signs soon came to represent the increasing tension over US-Mexico border policy. While most hispanics considered the signs to be racial stereotyping, many Californians used it as a symbol of protest against illegal immigration. Soon the sign could be seen on T-shirts, coffee mugs and stickers.

With the increased security at the US borders since 9-11, fatalities are no longer the concern they had been in the 90's and there was public pressure to remove the signs. CALTRANS decommissioned them in 2008 and the signs were removed. Designed by graphic artist John Hood, one of the signs is on display in the Smithsonian.

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