'Stop Means Stop' Signs Trademarked

If you drive through the neighborhoods in Northampton Township, you've probably seen the "" signs secured on normal stop signs.

The department put these up in 2011 as an attempt to encourage motorists to stop at intersections where there had previously been stop sign violations. However, in late 2011 the organization Keep Kids Alive, Drive 25 contacted the department to let them know that they held a registered trademark on the phrase.

The Omaha-based group's mission is to secure children's safety and to eliminate deaths and injuries caused by distracted driving and speeding, according to their website.

The police department did not know about the trademark, and after conversing with organization officials they came to an agreement. The township will be allowed to continue using the signs where they have already been placed, and each one will get a registered trademark sticker attached to it, said officer Stephen Kingsdorf.

The signs were well-received in the communities where they were put up, but any further usage of the phrase will be done solely through the Keep Kids Alive organization, he said.

"We would like to thank Keepkidsalivedrive25.org for working with our police department in this matter and to encourage our residents to visit their website if they have needs for the services that they provide," Kingsdorf said.