What are the rules of roadside memorials in Northern Nevada?

RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — "I usually come here alone and I just sit and talk to him," said Sandy Burt, who visits the makeshift memorial she built along N. Virginia Street to honor her son, Kyle Zimbelman.

Zimbelman was killed in an officer-involved shooting after he led law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase and opened fire on them. But for Burt, it's still the loss of a son.

"It helps me because I just have a place to come if I just want to be alone and talk to him," said Burt.

The cross Burt and her family built stands about 10 feet tall, it has a concrete base and lights up at night. It's built just off N. Virginia Street, near the intersection with Stead Blvd.

Although larger than most, it's one of many roadside memorials built off Nevada roadways. The crosses, flowers and pictures are a place for families to grieve.

"We understand that roadside memorials are a truly sensitive subject," said Meg Ragonese, spokesperson for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

But Ragonese admits NDOT gets complaints about them. She says that over the decades of community feedback, the response seems to be split.

"There really are two different viewpoints on this that we really try to talk a fine balance," said Ragonese.

Some people criticize them, saying they are unsafe and a distraction to drivers. Others simply think they're inappropriate.

"Sometimes they can get large and out of place alongside the roads," said Dave Solaro, Assistant Washoe County Manager. "Some people see them as trash."

County, state and city officials all say they do not have a policy when it comes to roadside memorials. Often they are only removed if they pose a danger to drivers by being visually distracting or having pieces that could fly off the memorial onto the road. County and state officials say they also look into whether or not the memorial would break if a car were to hit it.

"A car sliding off the road hitting a concrete-based memorial could do some real damage," said Solaro.

At the Nevada Department of Transportation, officials will try to contact a family before they remove a memorial. Ragonese says they work with the family to try to better secure it before removing it.

If they can't get in touch with the family and the memorial is dangerous to drivers, they will remove it and save it for a month in case the family comes forward.