ALPINE, Utah — Authorities in Alpine are investigating a disturbing act of vandalism after a digital road sign outside a Latter-day Saints meetinghouse was reprogrammed to display a racist slur over the weekend.
The sign, intended to provide detour information for Canyon Crest Drive, instead showed a racial insult directed at Black people, along with the name of a local high school athlete.
Police Launch Investigation
The Lone Peak Police Department confirmed that the incident remains under active investigation. It’s still unclear whether the student’s name was used maliciously or if the individual is also a victim of the hack.
“This is not something we see in Alpine,” said Gordon Oswald, a 14-year resident of the city. “It’s just wrong. If it’s kids, they need to learn a lesson. If it’s an adult, maybe there should be fines or even jail time — because this is not right.”
How the Hack Happened
According to officials, incidents like this are becoming increasingly common nationwide. Many portable electronic road signs can be easily accessed by breaking into the control box and bypassing the default password system, allowing individuals to alter the displayed messages.
While some hackers have used this trick for pranks — such as the 2009 case in Austin, Texas, when a sign was changed to read “CAUTION! ZOMBIES AHEAD!” — the Alpine incident crossed a serious line.
Residents say this racist act doesn’t represent their community’s values.
“I’m coming from church right now,” said Dave Garber, another long-time Alpine resident. “People need to love each other more. This does not reflect how our community feels at all.”
Preventing Future Hacks
The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) clarified that the sign in question was not under its jurisdiction, but officials acknowledged that similar issues have occurred elsewhere. UDOT advises construction crews to secure all control boxes and use unique passwords for each sign to prevent unauthorized access.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about who may have tampered with the Alpine sign to contact the Lone Peak Police Department.
