Georgia interstate logo signs give taxpayers a break

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – You travel fast on the interstate, but you do have to stop sometime.

“We get a lot of people from out of town,” said Loco’s Bar and Grill Assistant Manager Brooke Epps.

When you do, you have a guide.

“It gives you convenient access when you’re traveling on the interstates especially,” said traveler Jason Wright.

The business logos stare back at you–food, gas, and sometimes hotels.

“Somewhere that’s close that you know that you can get to readily from the road without taking a large break,” said Wright.

Jason Wright and his family ended up at Loco’s on Riverside Drive for a reason–the logo sign.

“We relied on it today when picking the restaurant,” said Wright. “I noticed that it was 0.2 miles so I choose Locos because A, I know Locos and B, it’s close.”

They’re on just about every interstate exit you’ve been on.

“I know that they’re very helpful and I’m glad that they’re there,” said traveler Mary McDermott.

You might take them for granted, but businesses don’t.

“Especially gas and food of course, so you know where to stop and what’s safe,” said McDermott.

Locos assistant manager Brooke Epps notices a lot of out-of-towners.

“A lot of people don’t know what Locos is, so when they see that they’re more intrigued, interested to stop by and see what it is,” said Epps.

As many as 60,000 people could be intrigued.

The Georgia Department of Transportation calculates that number.

“So if just one or two pull over and get a tank of gas or get a meal or get everyone in their car a meal, or get a hotel room,” said GDOT spokesperson Natalie Dale. “You could very quickly make up that 2400 dollars that you paid for in a year.”

Dale says the department gets $5 million a year for the signs.

“We’ve gone from paying to do it, to being paid to have these,” said Dale.

So the millions head from businesses to GDOT, and ends up with rest areas and welcome centers.

“We are from Florida, we travel through here probably three times a year at least,” said McDermott.

McDermott stops by the rest area on I-475 quite a bit.

“Beautiful flowers and very well manicured, it’s peaceful–very gorgeous,” said McDermott.

The money shifts the burden from you, the taxpayer, to businesses, who get good, less expensive advertising.

“We do see an increase in business from it, so I would recommend it,” said Epps.

“Anything that helps us not pay extra taxes, we’re in favor of,” said Wright. “So if it subsidized the welcome centers and help us keep nice clean places when we travel, it makes traveling better across the board.”

So don’t drive too fast–you may miss them.

“I have Siri, but she doesn’t like me very well, she always gives me the wrong directions,” said McDermott.

They’re there to guide you.