For years, I've been curious about these small signs on the side of Maine roads and what they mean. It turns out it's pretty straightforward once it's explained to you by the Maine DOT.

What is a DOT Compact?

Maine DOT via Facebook
Maine DOT via Facebook
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My first thought was that Maine's DOT uses these signs to mark where higher population areas begin. Places that are more urban than rural, hence the "urban line." But that didn't make a lot of sense. That's what town line signs are for.

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It wasn't until the Maine DOT posted an explanation on their Facebook page that solved this many-years-long mystery for me. It's really simple.

It's All About Responsibility

These signs mark the spot where the responsibility of maintaining the road changes hands between the State of Maine and the local municipality. Things like plowing, road maintenance, and other road work all fall into the maintenance category. This sign marks the spots where DOT trucks can lift their plow blades because their work is done here, the rest is up to the local municipality.

Any Questions?

In the comments section of the Facebook post, one person asked, "Does it also apply to the discharge of firearms within a city limit?"

MaineDOT responded, "Compact areas are set by the DOT for highway maintenance purposes only. However, some towns have crafted local ordinances (like firearms) and use compact areas as their defined area."

Finally, my curiosity is no more. Cue the video:

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