A father in the Los Angeles area decided to take matters into his own hands after feeling frustrated with city officials. He painted “stop” on the road and put up a 30-inch reflective stop sign himself. As a result, he was arrested.
Joseph Brandlin lives in El Segundo and has witnessed numerous near misses at the intersection near his home. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, he has been vocal about the need for better traffic safety.
A surge of community support was quickly mobilized, with neighbors sending in 74 letters endorsing Brandlin, which he presented to city officials soon after his arrest.
The man, who’s lived there for almost 40 years, expressed that his calls regarding safety at the Loma Vista and Acacia streets intersection have largely gone unanswered. “I really care about the safety of my neighborhood and the families who live here,” Brandlin mentioned.
After joining other local residents to submit a petition with roughly 50 signatures demanding more stop signs, the city conducted a traffic study but reportedly found no justification for them. Meanwhile, the residents felt no genuine investigation had been conducted.
Gary Sanders, a neighbor, pointed out the nearby park that attracts children. “A tragedy could happen,” he warned. “When something terrible occurs, does the city finally react?”
Brandlin recounted a pivotal moment when his son nearly got hit by a vehicle at this troublesome intersection, an experience that pushed him to act.
According to the El Segundo Police Department, Brandlin started installing the stop sign early on March 14. While the city hadn’t made necessary safety adjustments, they looked to quicken prosecution against him.
His arrest occurred around 1:30 a.m. Brandlin felt the charges—Interfering with a traffic control device, grand theft, and criminal damage—were excessive and left him feeling overwhelmed. He was later released and has a court hearing coming up in June.
Neighbors rallied behind him again, sending 74 letters of support shortly after his arrest. At a City Council meeting soon after, Brandlin stated, “We’re asking the City Council to either put up a stop sign at the intersection of Loma Vista and Acacia streets or to conduct a full, transparent evaluation with the community.”
The Times article also noted previous instances where residents had been arrested while trying to enhance street safety.
Brandlin mentioned that he had yet to hear back from the City Council regarding his appeal.
Despite attempts to engage, the Council did not respond to inquiries for comments.
“The city just didn’t listen,” he remarked.
In a report by KCBS-TV, Brandlin, a single father, mentioned he would do it all again if it meant keeping families safe.
