Trump Called "Shape Shifting Lizard" In Hacked Road Sign
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is drawing either the ire or mirth of some protesters who hacked a Texas Department of Transportation sign in Dallas. The same roadside sign has now been changed twice in less than 48 hours.
The sign, located along westbound Interstate-30 at Cockrell Hill Road in Dallas, was first changed over the long Memorial Day weekend. The new message read "Party Hardy Yall!" That prompted a swift response from TxDOT officials on Monday. "It has been removed," said TxDOT spokesman Tony Hartzel. "And the contractor has taken steps to secure the sign."
I don't think @TxDOT really meant to send this msg to drivers off i30 today in Dallas. ????. Spotted today pic.twitter.com/IKZ6EHeoyQ
— Michelle Rodriguez (@michrod) May 30, 2016
However, at some point either late Monday night or early Tuesday, hackers struck again. But, this time, they posted political messages on two TxDOT boards, both along Interstate-30, just a short distance away from each other. The first was an attack on Trump, calling him a "Shape Shifting Lizard."
The second sign simply said "Bernie For President" in support of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. A third sign was also hacked, but not with a political message. It told Tuesday morning commuters "Work is canceled. Go back home." All of the signs have since been returned to their normal messages.
The signs are meant to warn drivers about road construction in the area, and hacking them is not easy. The perpetrator had to cut a lock off of a box and reset the sign's passwords. Whether it was a prank or serious political message, TxDOT officials said that this is no laughing matter. "It would seem the people behind it think it's funny," explained Ryan LaFontaine with TxDOT on Tuesday. "We're talking about a serious issue that could cause very serious problems if drivers don't get the messages."
Before the political hack, Hartzel added, "Due to safety concerns, we strongly discourage people from stopping in work zones to create situations such as this." In fact, hacking these roadside signs is a third-degree felony. What do you think about all of this? Go to our Facebook page and weigh in on the issue.