Stop. No, seriously, stop.

Whilst I drive about my town-away-from-town (which is to say, where I go to babysit a lot and hence spend much time), I see this sign often and think: what prompted it?  Who first decided that they absolutely needed to specify that you must STOP HERE, by order of the POLICE?  Usually a simple Stop Bar or, you know, red light does the trick.  It makes me a little afraid of the intersection, actually.

So I thought I'd share the picture, so you guys can wonder as have I.