ROCKFORD — In a way, it's totally rock 'n' roll that "The Man" has declared signs immortalizing Cheap Trick illegal.

Four signs that featured the Rockford pop rockers, who were inducted this year into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, were removed from state roadways in June after the state demanded the city take action.

The Illinois Department of Transportation told Mayor Larry Morrissey in a May 31 letter that the signs had to be taken down because they are considered "advertising" and don't abide by other state sign rules.

The 5-foot-tall, 3-foot-wide signs are in storage, said John Groh, president of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Visitors Bureau had the signs put up a few days after the foursome was inducted into the Hall of Fame in an April ceremony in New York.

The signs tell drivers that "Rockford streets are patrolled by the Dream Police" — a nod to the name of one of the group's hit songs. The signs use a photo of band members from the 1979 album "Dream Police."

The offending signs were posted on state-controlled roadways — on East State Street heading west around Bell School Road, on North Second Street entering Rockford from Loves Park, on South Main Street by U.S. 20 and West State Street and Springfield Avenue.

Signs can remain along city streets where the original band members grew up — Spring Creek Road, Buckingham Drive, Parkview Avenue and Waterview Road in Machesney Park. The band members who make up the classic Cheap Trick lineup are Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander, Tom Petersson and Bun E. Carlos.

Groh said that neither he nor others involved in the campaign to recognize the city's celebrity claim to fame thought to ask the state for permission to post the signs.

He said he plans to try to work with the city and others to get IDOT to change its mind. "We are sorry," Groh said he'll tell the agency. "Here is what they are, and would you allow us to put them up on a permanent basis?"

A call seeking comment from IDOT was not returned today.

In the letter to Morrissey, IDOT engineers Paul A. Loete and Trisha Thompson say the signs "expose the state to a liability claim in the event the encroachment contributes in any way to an injury, death or other loss."

Nielsen said in a telephone interview today that he had "nothing to do with them going up, nothing to do with them coming down." But he said he sees signs all around town recognizing this or that sports team for achievements, and that the Cheap Trick signs were similarly intended to be a "recognition thing."

"It's not advertising," Nielsen said. "We don't get any money."

Jay Graham of GrahamSpencer, who designed the Dream Police signage, said in an email he doesn't consider the signs advertising.

"I consider them indicative of a creative community that loves their Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame rock band, Cheap Trick, and wanted to exhibit our pride and provide them a much-deserved pat on the back," Graham said.

The Cheap Trick signs were among a few dozen that IDOT objected to, including signs recognizing awards and neighborhood watch. While some of those signs have been taken down, the city is seeking clarification from IDOT on others, said Jeremy Carter, city traffic engineer.

The IDOT letter says its staff noted the "non-compliant and non-permitted signs" during "recent field inspections."

"IDOT has concern about the potential to add sign clutter and they regulate the right-of-way," Carter said. He said some signs were outdated and others didn't comply with state regulations. In some cases it might come down to "we feel lettering should be black-on-white; they say black-on-orange," he said.

There also were issues with signs on the catwalk bridge connecting a parking deck to BMO Harris Bank Center.

Another problem sign for IDOT was on U.S. Business 20 west of Interstate 90. It proclaims "Rockford, Illinois Home of The Rockford IceHogs Proud Affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks."

"This sign is not permitted," IDOT said in its letter, alongside a photo of the offending sign. "We don't permit these type (sic) of signs."

Georgette Braun: 815-987-1331; gbraun@rrstar.com; @GeorgetteBraun

Read the letter