There are a handful of places we go to frequently to the point we barely think about the route to get there. You know the turns, the traffic patterns, and even the stop signs. Speaking of stop signs, if one of them were to change, would you notice?

Credit: Canva
Credit: Canva
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You probably say no, because generally all stop signs look exactly the same. But, I noticed an alarming difference on my drive to the 54th Street Meijer the other day...

No, there isn't a new traffic pattern, or even new lines in the lot at Menards. There is however, the world's smallest stop sign.

Courtesy of Chad Verwey
Courtesy of Chad Verwey
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Okay, that's a little dramatic. I don't ACTUALLY know if it's the smallest in the world, but it does make me feel like that scene from the movie Zoolander...

In case it hasn't crossed your path, here's where you can find it:

Google Street View
Google Street View
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You can see the old version on google street view if you need a comparison to how tiny it is now.

And while obviously, it's still there, and you probably already know to stop at this intersection. It made me think- is this new stop sign actually legal?

Is there a standard size for stop signs in Grand Rapids?

The city of Grand Rapids does not have a specific sign size ordinance. We have rules for how high up and how far from things signs must be located, but there is no current rule on how big or small they can or can not be.

The state of Michigan has a lot of rules when it comes to types of materials signs are made of, as well as their distance from the road. But again, no minimum or maximum sign sizes listed anywhere that I could find.

canva
canva
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However, since the sign is in a private parking lot versus a city street, it's actually not subject to city or state code, so it's double in the clear.

So, no this sign isn't breaking any rules. However, I know several people have raised concerns about the fact that people have been hit by cars and busses at this intersection because people get confused about right of way. So while it's not against the rules, it seems concerning that the sign has gotten smaller versus larger and more noticeable.

Speaking of legality... here are some of the dumbest laws on the book in Michigan

Michigan still has some of the dumbest laws on the books

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