PA Turnpike: New County Line Signs

[MASTERNC]

I noticed that in the recently repaved section of the PA Turnpike west of the Morgantown (I-176) interchange, the old blue and white signs delineating the Lancaster/Berks county line have been replaced with traditional white-on-green signs.  The letters are in all caps (i.e. LANCASTER COUNTY) and are still quite small compared to the county line signs used on other PA interstates.

[roadman65]

At least PA marks county lines unlike NJ Turnpike (or NJ Interstates for that matter).  A sign whether small or large at least is a sign.

[Compulov]

I saw the white on green sign for Berks County on the way home from Harrisburg back around mother's day (or maybe it was when we were out there for Easter, I forget now). I just drove through that stretch again this weekend and it looks like someone caught the error, since now there's a new blue on white sign for Berks county. I didn't notice if there was a new one for Lancaster on the westbound side.

[NJRoadfan]

At least PA marks county lines unlike NJ Turnpike (or NJ Interstates for that matter).  A sign whether small or large at least is a sign.

NJDOT marks municipalities only. The old NJ Highway Authority is the only one to mark county lines on the Garden State Parkway.

[cpzilliacus]

At least PA marks county lines unlike NJ Turnpike (or NJ Interstates for that matter).  A sign whether small or large at least is a sign.

I don't know how the N.J. State Police handle traffic tickets (and, in particular, determining what county they are in when writing a ticket) on the Turnpike.

I suppose it's relatively easy now with GPS units, but I have often wondered how this was done before GPS became common and commonly affordable.

[NJRoadfan]

At least PA marks county lines unlike NJ Turnpike (or NJ Interstates for that matter).  A sign whether small or large at least is a sign.

I don't know how the N.J. State Police handle traffic tickets (and, in particular, determining what county they are in when writing a ticket) on the Turnpike.

I suppose it's relatively easy now with GPS units, but I have often wondered how this was done before GPS became common and commonly affordable.

They did it by mileposts. If they were uncertain of the municipality they were in, they radio it in (which they have to do anyway to get a court date to put on the ticket). Traffic citations are handled at the municipal level in NJ, not the county.

[cpzilliacus]

At least PA marks county lines unlike NJ Turnpike (or NJ Interstates for that matter).  A sign whether small or large at least is a sign.

I don't know how the N.J. State Police handle traffic tickets (and, in particular, determining what county they are in when writing a ticket) on the Turnpike.

I suppose it's relatively easy now with GPS units, but I have often wondered how this was done before GPS became common and commonly affordable.

They did it by mileposts.

That makes plenty of sense, and both the Turnpike and the  Parkway have them every 1/10th of a mile.

If they were uncertain of the municipality they were in, they radio it in (which they have to do anyway to get a court date to put on the ticket).

I would think at this point they would be able to get such information from their  in-vehicle computer systems.

Traffic citations are handled at the municipal level in NJ, not the county.

Also makes sense.  But I have lived my entire life in Maryland, which is extremely county-centric (and for many citizens in Maryland and places to the south of it, the county is the lowest level of government).

[added on edit]

There are absolutely no townships in Maryland or any states south of Maryland.  The only place in the state of Maryland with municipal courts is Baltimore City, which is effectively its own county (it is not part of any surrounding county). 

South of the Potomac, Virginia has many larger cities and a few pretty small cities [consider perhaps the smallest, Manassas Park] (cities in Virginia are always independent of nearby counties (they are effectively their own counties) and usually have their own court system, though some will share the court system, Commonwealth's Attorney and jail with an adjoining county), which is as close to municipal-level courts that I have ever personally seen.

[froggie]

though some will share the court system, Commonwealth's Attorney and jail with an adjoining county), which is as close to municipal-level courts that I have ever personally seen.

Might be because, in some cases, the independent city in question is also the county seat for the surrounding county.  I.e. Winchester/Frederick County, Charlottesville/Albemarle County, etc etc.

[cpzilliacus]

though some will share the court system, Commonwealth's Attorney and jail with an adjoining county), which is as close to municipal-level courts that I have ever personally seen.

Might be because, in some cases, the independent city in question is also the county seat for the surrounding county.  I.e. Winchester/Frederick County, Charlottesville/Albemarle County, etc etc.

Consider the City of Fairfax and the County of Fairfax; and the City of Manassas and the County of Prince William.

I have always found this aspect of county government in Virginia to be pretty amusing - the official county seat is located outside the county!

Though in the case of Fairfax County, the Board of Supervisors now sits at the Fairfax (County) Government Center, which is west of the corporate limits of the City of Fairfax.  But the county's jail and courthouse are in the City of Fairfax (and yes, the City of Fairfax and the County of Fairfax share their jail, Sheriff's Office and Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney - and the county schools contracts with  the City to run the schools in the City).

All of this make me wonder why the City of Fairfax would not be better-off as a town (in Virginia, towns are part of the surrounding county, while still retaining substantial authority over matters within the corporate limits of the town).

Leesburg, the county seat of Loudoun County, remains a town.

[Takumi]

Consider the City of Fairfax and the County of Fairfax; and the City of Manassas and the County of Prince William.

I have always found this aspect of county government in Virginia to be pretty amusing - the official county seat is located outside the county!

Though in the case of Fairfax County, the Board of Supervisors now sits at the Fairfax (County) Government Center, which is west of the corporate limits of the City of Fairfax.  But the county's jail and courthouse are in the City of Fairfax (and yes, the City of Fairfax and the County of Fairfax share their jail, Sheriff's Office and Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney - and the county schools contracts with  the City to run the schools in the City).

All of this make me wonder why the City of Fairfax would not be better-off as a town (in Virginia, towns are part of the surrounding county, while still retaining substantial authority over matters within the corporate limits of the town).

Leesburg, the county seat of Loudoun County, remains a town.

Two more like this are Emporia (Greensville County) and Covington (Allegheny County). In the case of Allegheny, its other independent city, Clifton Forge, gave up its city status in 2001 and became a town again.