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There are two systems of highway exit numbering in this country. One has the exit number the same as the mileage marker post rounded to a whole mile. The other goes in sequential order. My state has the latter system. So a highway will have say 40 exits labelled exit 1, exit 2, etc but they are not usually 1 mile apart.
The Federal government is forcing anyone who wants to get Federal highway dollars to change to the first system. I see no reason to justify mandating this change which I would imagine, when multiple states are impacted, will amount to millions of dollars.
iris lilies
3-23-21, 9:58am
A reason is standardization. In theory I like the idea of all Federal highways marked in the same way.
It is the on the ground costs I don’t like to make this change.
I understand that Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Delaware are the only three states using the sequential numbering system. A small example of how the federal government is taking power from the states. I think we can see more of that trend over the next couple of years in election law, school curricula, gun regulations and other areas.
frugal-one
3-23-21, 12:12pm
I understand that Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Delaware are the only three states using the sequential numbering system. A small example of how the federal government is taking power from the states. I think we can see more of that trend over the next couple of years in election law, school curricula, gun regulations and other areas.
I see no problem in the items you mentioned to be regulated. Seems it would be advantageous to have uniformity.
iris lilies
3-23-21, 12:32pm
I don’t know the history or context of this highway issue so no doubt my opinion will be full of ignorance. But…
I’m not very concerned about the feds pushing decisions about their own property, federal highways. It’s their thing.
Their further encroachment into local and state affairs is what bothers me.
I see no problem in the items you mentioned to be regulated. Seems it would be advantageous to have uniformity.
They are already regulated by the states. I don’t see much advantage in an all-powerful central government oozing out of its constitutionally enumerated powers and regulating an ever expanding portion of our lives. If California wants to impose Critical Race Theory in elementary education while Iowa does not, that’s fine with me. If Oklahoma wants to prohibit ballot harvesting but Ohio doesn’t, that’s fine with me. I don’t like the idea of being ruled from an imperial Capitol, and would much prefer to see government power as dispersed and localized as possible.
It's micromanagement and if it ain't broke don't fix it, especially where it costs money to fix it. The highways work fine the way they are. I have been driving since I was 16 and never heard of anyone getting lost because an exit is called exit 2 instead of exit 60. If someone is so lacking in intelligence they can't handle a little regional variation heaven help them if they try to cross the border and drive in Canada which uses kilometers instead of miles and liters at the gas pump.
I agree. It is VERY confusing to drive for 20 years on the same road, and then there are little signs that say something like "This used to be Exit 17 but now it's Exit 262."
I don't know about Massachusetts, New Hampsire and Delaware being the only states to have sequential numbering. The NY State Thruway/Rt. 87 actually has sequential numbers. So does Vermont (Rt. 89). And to my knowledge Rt. 95 in CT still does, but I don't know if that applies because it's a Federal highway system. The Schuykill in PA changed from sequential to mile markers and that was a pain.
The standardization of street addresses, exit designation, signage that has been rolled out over the past few decades is tremendously helpful to first responders.
When I hear Dispatch give an address of 3781 Happy Acres Trail, I know that the driveway associated with that address is 3.781 miles down from the beginning of the road (also defined carefully), and on the left hand side. This is invaluable.
I agree. It is VERY confusing to drive for 20 years on the same road, and then there are little signs that say something like "This used to be Exit 17 but now it's Exit 262."
I don't know about Massachusetts, New Hampsire and Delaware being the only states to have sequential numbering. The NY State Thruway/Rt. 87 actually has sequential numbers. So does Vermont (Rt. 89). And to my knowledge Rt. 95 in CT still does, but I don't know if that applies because it's a Federal highway system. The Schuykill in PA changed from sequential to mile markers and that was a pain.
I'm surprised you didn't include the NJ Turnpike in your list. It will be interesting to see how they handle the point in Seacaucus where the road splits and there are two I-95s running parallel to each other for a few miles before rejoining into one highway.
I'm surprised you didn't include the NJ Turnpike in your list. It will be interesting to see how they handle the point in Seacaucus where the road splits and there are two I-95s running parallel to each other for a few miles before rejoining into one highway.
You're right. That turnpike is a pain, also.
Just for the record, I was Exit 9.
I wonder what will be next in making us even more of a homogeneous chain store run country. Will Louisiana have to change its parishes to counties? Will Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky no longer be able to call themselves commonwealths because that is different?
frugal-one
3-23-21, 5:46pm
. I don’t see much advantage in an all-powerful central government oozing out of its constitutionally enumerated powers and regulating an ever expanding portion of our lives. If California wants to impose Critical Race Theory in elementary education while Iowa does not, that’s fine with me. If Oklahoma wants to prohibit ballot harvesting but Ohio doesn’t, that’s fine with me. I don’t like the idea of being ruled from an imperial Capitol, and would much prefer to see government power as dispersed and localized as possible.
That is the problem. Look at the last election. If handling of ballots were uniformly handled there would have been no questions asked (even though there should not have been anyways IMO). Gun laws in IL and IN are different. IL residents are going across state lines to IN to purchase guns because they are not able to do so legally in their state. Again, uniform laws would alleviate this problem. As far as school curriculums... I don’t see why it is beneficial for CA or other states to teach differently. I don’t believe all things should be uniform but the ones you stated surely would benefit.
That is the problem. Look at the last election. If handling of ballots were uniformly handled there would have been no questions asked (even though there should not have been anyways IMO). Gun laws in IL and IN are different. IL residents are going across state lines to IN to purchase guns because they are not able to do so legally in their state. Again, uniform laws would alleviate this problem. As far as school curriculums... I don’t see why it is beneficial for CA or other states to teach differently. I don’t believe all things should be uniform but the ones you stated surely would benefit.
If the federal government dictated to the states how ballots should be handled, that wouldn’t eliminate questions. It would only make the questions larger. It’s not like the feds are above reproach, looking at how the IRS and FBI have put their oars in recently.
I like the idea of different states taking different approaches. You can vote with your feet. Look at the people leaving California. If the whole country were run on California lines, we’d have nowhere to flee. That’s one of the markers of totalitarianism. I like that states can try different strategies based on local preference. The whole laboratories of democracy thing.
I like federalism, and hope it doesn’t get wrecked over the next couple of years. I like the way it can frustrate the people who think they know my best interests better than I do.
Gun laws in IL and IN are different. IL residents are going across state lines to IN to purchase guns because they are not able to do so legally in their state. Again, uniform laws would alleviate this problem.
You actually believe this? Let me educate you. I've seen this in person with a friend last summer. You are allowed to buy LONG guns directly from a gun shop from a state bordering yours and you can take it home when the background check comes back with an approval. I forget what the waiting period is. Might be 24 hours. If you are an IL resident trying to buy a gun in a bordering state, the gun shop makes you show your IL FOID card. No FOID, no gun. Period. For handguns, federal law is that while you might buy it in person from a gun shop in another state, you are NOT allowed to take it home with you. It has to be shipped to a FFL in your state of residence who handles the background check. Again, if you're an IL resident trying to buy a handgun in IN, you're going to have to show your IL FOID card. There are a number of gun shops in bordering states that simply will NOT sell to IL residents due to the extra hoops with the FOID. They're going to know you're an IL resident when you show your IL drivers license.
The bad guys wanting guns will always be able to get them - illegally.
frugal-one
3-24-21, 7:24am
Tradd when we were traveling 2019 we saw tv ads promoting no background checks for gun sales in IN....Pence’s state. We were shocked to see this. Glad to hear this is no longer the case.
iris lilies
3-24-21, 9:54am
Tradd when we were traveling 2019 we saw tv ads promoting no background checks for gun sales in IN....Pence’s state. We were shocked to see this. Glad to hear this is no longer the case.
Is that for gun shows? I’m pretty sure gun shows in Missouri don’t require background checks. At least at a time DH bought his vintage rifle several years ago, no background check was required.
Is that for gun shows? I’m pretty sure gun shows in Missouri don’t require background checks. At least at a time DH bought his vintage rifle several years ago, no background check was required.
If you buy from a PRIVATE seller, a background check may not be required. It depends on STATE law. If you buy from a gun shop at a gun show, gun shop will also be an FFL, and they MUST do background checks.
Here in IL, if you sell privately to another individual, you have to take their FOID card number, and run it on the state police website. It gives you an approval good for 30 days. You print that out, add info about firearm serial number, model, buyer/seller info, and keep that for 10 years. I’ve sold multiple firearms privately and did it legally.
frugal-one
3-24-21, 4:11pm
BACKGROUND CHECKS
Background Check Procedures in Indiana
VIEW POLICY AREA
Last Updated
FEBRUARY 12, 2021
Federal law requires federally licensed firearms dealers (but not private sellers) to initiate a background check on the purchaser prior to sale of a firearm. Federal law provides states with the option of serving as a state “point of contact” and conducting their own background checks using state, as well as federal, records and databases, or having the checks performed by the FBI using only the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (“NICS”) database. (Note that state files are not always included in the federal database.)
Indiana is not a point of contact state for the NICS. Indiana law explicitly requires dealers to conduct a background check prior to transferring a handgun, by contacting the FBI directly.1 Although Indiana has no law explicitly requiring firearms dealers to initiate a background check prior to transferring a long gun, the federal law requires dealers to initiate a background check prior to the transfer of any kind of gun by contacting the FBI directly.2
Indiana does not require private sellers (sellers who are not licensed dealers) to initiate a background check when transferring a firearm. See our Private Sales policy summary.
BikingLady
3-25-21, 6:18pm
Kinda on the same wasteful sign topic. We have a group that had great intentions years ago for a bike route around the county, not on trails but roads. SOMEHOW the group got the funds to have very nice blue state signs Connecting Route, with arrows and City or park headed too. This is not a small amount of signs either. I had to track down what these signs were, is there a map, who knows about them?? 5 years ago I was given a map future map of the plan, before the signs were installed. I rode a section the other day and OMG the signs. I searched FB and found a page that was for this Connecting Route. 4 people on it, So I asked IS there a map? Will post soon was the answer, nothing.
I am an avid rider, yet can not help but say every time we pass one what a waste of funds from somewhere!
iris lilies
4-8-21, 5:20pm
Wasteful: the feds are now funding funerals for Covid-dead people. $9,000.
New England is very wasteful. Every little town has its own fiefdom of highly paid people like police chief, fire chief, superintendent of schools, DPW superintendent, etc, etc. County government is much more efficient.
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