Florida jail hangs neon ‘vacancy’ sign

By Benjamin Brown

Who says law enforcement officers don’t have a sense of humor?

The Flagler County Jail in Florida has been known as the “Green Roof Inn.” So the sheriff’s office decided to make the nickname a little more official by installing three signs with the moniker.

One sign unveiled Thursday at the complex in Bunnell, Fla., uses classic neon lighting, with “GREEN ROOF INN” in green capital letters, and “VACANCY” flashing in red below, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported.

Below the neon sign is a list of “ACCOMMODATIONS,” highlighting what “guests” of the jail can expect from their stay, including:  No privacy, group bathrooms and showers, no meal selection, and free transportation to the courthouse or state prison.

“We have a one-star rating and we’re working to lower that as I’m speaking,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly says in a video promoting the “inn,” WESH-TV reported.

For those who complete their “stay,” another sign near the exit reminds them that the Green Roof Inn “always has a light on,” the News-Journal reported.

Staly said the signs are an effort to make people think twice before breaking the law.

“It is a warning to potential offenders that the jail is not a 5-star hotel,” Staly told the paper. “When you get arrested, we provide the minimum accommodations as required by law. Once an offender  checks in, they lose their basic freedoms. They don’t decide what to eat, wear, or do with their day.”

The jail, which can hold more than 400 inmates, held approximately 217 prisoners as of Thursday.