Man won't 'stop' until he corrects youthful error

SALT LAKE CITY – It's a case of thief's remorse — more than three decades later. A man who said he stole a stop sign 35 years ago from a Salt Lake County road has mailed a $600 cashier's check — bearing an illegible signature — to the Utah Department of Transportation.

UDOT spokesman Nile Easton said he received a letter last week signed by "a very foolish youth" apologizing for taking the sign and wanting to set things right.

In the letter the one-time thief said he prayed no one was injured because of his childish and thoughtless act.

He explains that he tried to contact the road department to correct his youthful indiscretion but was told not to worry about it. After that, he sent the check.

Easton said $600 will almost cover the cost and installation of three stop signs.

I can understand that idea, when I was a teenager the people I was with one night stopped and tore a tractor up that was parked in a field. A few years back I approached the man and told him I was there although I didn't tear anything up, I would pay him for all the expenses involed. He told me to not worry about it because he was young once too and had done a few things in his life also. Took a big load off of my mind.

Man the way people and law enforcement are around here you would be in jail within 10 minutes of your confession, they way they work things around here is they want justice one way or the other so it is better to just keep your mouth shut. places are sure different thats for sure and i don't see it changing any time soon.