States Consider Roadside Memorial Regulation

A move to regulate roadside memorials can be fraught with peril for elected officials.

They cite the need to set standards for the makeshift sites that appear after people are killed in crashes, fearing the memorials will become eyesores or traffic hazards. But they also have to balance those public concerns with sensitivity for those dealing with a loss.

New Jersey is the latest state to consider regulations for memorials. A bill making its way through the state legislature would allow a victim's relative to pay for a sign honoring the person who died and set certain specifications for the markers.

Some residents have questioned the move, saying this is a personal issue that government leaders should stay away from, unless there are overwhelming public safety concerns.