Shorewood DPW committee tables plan for towing signage after police warn signs would be 'white noise'

The Village of Shorewood Department of Public Works committee on an unpublished date discussed whether to post signs notifying drivers that officers may tow vehicles for reckless driving, then voted to table the matter.

Dan, who presented the Pike subcommittee's request, said the subcommittee wanted signage at certain intersections to inform drivers that a new towing ordinance is in effect. The goal, he said, was to deter reckless driving and make residents aware of the change.

The police chief told the committee he did not believe signage would produce the intended deterrent effect. "It can have the potential to become just simply white noise," the chief said, adding that drivers who consciously choose to drive recklessly are unlikely to be dissuaded by signs. He also raised practical concerns about how and when towing would be carried out and about equity and legal issues related to selling towed vehicles.

The chief reviewed recent enforcement figures for the village: he said there were three reckless-driving citations issued before the ordinance passed, two of which were crash- or OWI-related and one issued to a motorcyclist; he said there have been no citations categorized as reckless driving since the ordinance took effect in December 2025. By contrast, he reported the department has issued 27 speeding citations and several citations for unreasonable or unsafe speed in the same period.

The chief emphasized that towing for reckless driving is a discretionary enforcement tool rather than an automatic mandate for officers and that signs would not address the nuanced decisions officers make in the field. He recommended visible enforcement and messaging through the village manager's memo and social channels as likely more effective and raised concerns about the cost and maintenance of physical signage.

Committee members were divided. Some supported signs as a way to notify the public about a new ordinance; others agreed with the chief that the signs would be ignored by drivers intent on dangerous behavior and noted expense and maintenance. After discussion, a committee member moved to table the item and another seconded; the motion passed. The committee asked the subcommittee to revisit the proposal before bringing a revised plan back to the board.

Next steps: The signage proposal was tabled and may return if the Pike subcommittee develops revised language or placement recommendations.