The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is re-evaluating its policy and procedures when it comes to roadside memorials. The move comes after the agency was criticized for removing memorials without notifying family members.
According to the Casa Grande Dispatch, Pinal County Supervisor Pete Rios condemned Gov. Doug Ducey and ADOT after memorials were removed, including one that Rios’s family maintained in honor of his sister. That prompted ADOT to reassess its existing policy, which involves removing unauthorized items in highway right of ways.
"But a proposed use that’s been reviewed and determined not be a safety hazard can be permitted we have a permitting process for that," said Elliott. "So that’s what we’re examining, whether a permitting process can be used in this case."
Elliott said the goal is to balance safety with a family’s need to grieve a loved one.
