Maine drivers warned of zombie danger

A sign at a road construction site was changed by a hacker to read "Warning Zombies Ahead!" in Portland, Maine, Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012. / WGME/TV,AP Photo/Jeff Peterson

PORTLAND, Maine Drivers may have gotten a chuckle out of an electronic message board in Maine warning of zombies, but city officials were not amused.

The sign at a Portland road construction site was changed by a hacker to read "Warning Zombies Ahead!" on Wednesday morning. It originally read "Night work 8 pm-6 am. Expect delays."

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City spokeswoman Nicole Clegg said the signs are a safety precaution and changing it could have led to driver distraction.

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She told The Portland Press Herald that tampering with a safety device is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

She said it's not clear who changed the sign, but it's not the first time it has happened.

[lostpatrol123]

Maybe MDOT should change the default password on the mobile electronic sign trailers

[rwsmith29456]

The hackers signs are cute and funny but it's not cute and funny to interfere with a safety warning.

[Valhalla0907]

This happened is Louisville, Ky. A sign was hacked to read "Beware of Zombies". It was repaired, but later the same day it read, "Honk if You're *****!" The next morning motorists were greeted by "RWWOAR"! The sign finally had to be removed. People in the area loved it, I was holding out for SHAKE YOUR BOOTY!

[Mick_from_Amsterdam]

Surely this would provide a legal defense for motorists speeding to get through the zombie zone...

And for running down people...other-worldly looking or not...who might happen to get in the way

[mentalist65]

LOL