Musician Robbie Williams, who is well-known for his sense of humor, recently executed a playful but maybe contentious act. In a neighborhood, he took it upon himself to alter a “Resident permit holders only” sign with a simple sticky note.
Resident … what?
As first reported by Metro, the playful prank involved covering the letters “mit” in “permit,” effectively changing it to “nis”.
“I wonder if that woman got home/to work and said “I’m sure I’ve just seen Robbie Williams defacing a parking sign” 🤭” says one follower.
While some found the wordplay hilarious, others might criticize it as inappropriate and potentially offensive.
Will Robbie Williams face legal consequences?
While the gesture appears to be good-natured fun, there’s a possibility it could be considered a minor infraction of regulations.
Nevertheless, affixing a note to a sign typically doesn’t result in any significant harm or damage. It’s also plausible that Williams removed the note following the recording, eliminating any potential for confusion.
Criminal Damage Act 1971
- This law covers damage to property, including road signs. The extent of damage caused determines the violation level.
- If the damage is under £5,000, it would be considered criminal damage punishable by a fine of up to £5,000, up to 3 months in prison, or both.
- If the damage exceeds £5,000, it becomes criminal damage of a higher value, carrying a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Road Traffic Act 1988
- This law specifically addresses damaging or interfering with traffic signs.
- The maximum fine for it is a monetary penalty of up to £2,500 and/or a maximum of three months in jail.
Highways Act 1980
- This act prohibits damaging or interfering with any part of the highway, including signs.
- The maximum penalty is a fine of up to £1,000.
