Road sign hacked to warn of zombies

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PORTLAND, Maine, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Officials in a Maine city said they're trying to identify who hacked a roadside electronic message board, changing the message to "Warning Zombies Ahead!"

Portland city spokeswoman Nicole Clegg said the roadside sign, which was supposed to warn of impending road work, was hacked early Wednesday morning and the culprits could face charges of tampering with a safety device, which carries a fine of up to $1,000 and up to a year in jail, the Portland Press Herald reported Thursday.

"These are deployed and used as a safety precaution. They're not a toy," Clegg said. "We don't want people to be distracted. We take this kind of crime seriously."

Clegg said the sign is owned by contractors and it is unknown how the hackers managed to alter the message.