Missoula Traffic Sign Hacked to Display ‘Smoke Weed Every Day’

Practical jokers and weed enthusiasts from the University of Montana hacked a digital traffic sign to display a very important message. On Monday morning, March 2nd, on the corner of Sixth and Arther street in Missoula, drivers witnessed the pranksters homage to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s “The Next Episode.” The digital traffic sign, usually used to display messages during basketball games at the Adams Center, prominently displayed the message, “SMOKE WEED EVERY DAY.”

President Wade Sellers of Professional Construction Services, who provides the signs, wanted to make sure he clarified that the message was in no way an attempt by the company to advocate for the legalization of marijuana. He said he does not know who posted the message, but that he knows it was no one from his company because he is the only one who works with the traffic signs.

According to Sellers, the traffic signs could be relatively easy to figure out and alter the message. “They have to get inside the machine, and then someone has to know the password to log into the software system,” he said. “Whoever changed those boards was able to figure out what that password was, for those units.”

According to University of Montanna Vice President Peggy Kuhr, the message was only on display for about 10 to 15 minutes. Kurh stated that they are not launching an investigation to uncover the identity of the suspect or suspects, but that they have simply changed the signs password to regain control of the message display, so that no similar pranks can occur again. It’s nice to know that the university can take a joke and won’t be making a big deal about the harmless prank.

Campus Police Chief Marty Ludemann did say that the university had learned of a “potential suspect” and the charge of disorderly conduct is possible. But as of yet no charges have been made, and it seems more like the statement was just a matter of the campus police having to say something about the case.

According to Ludemann, cannabis is a popular recreation at the university (no surprise there) and since January the UM police have investigated 129 reports of cannabis odor and issued 31 citations. “It’s just something that we deal with quite often, and we take it call to call and try to instill better decision-making,” he said.

One officer had a lighter sense of humor about the prank. Officer Luke Hoerner spoke with Montana Kaimin, the University’s student operated daily newspaper, saying, “I actually think it’s kinda funny.”

It’s a refreshing reminder that not all police unilaterally demonize the harmless herb. We thought it was pretty funny too, officer Hoerner.