The New York City Department of Transportation removed padlocks and other items on Friday from the Brooklyn Bridge.
The removal was the city's latest effort stop the symbolic gestures of love from continuing the weigh down the bridge. The DOT removes locks on a daily basis, but after a wire attached to a light on the bridge snapped off because of the weight of the locks, the DOT decided to ramp up its efforts.
"We thought it was a big safety issue," says DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenburg. "This made us decide we had to come out here today and ask people to come have a romantic time on the Brooklyn Bridge, but please don't tie locks and other pieces of junk to the bridge, to a beautiful historic structure."
The city is installing 16 signs to warn visitors of a $100 fine for anyone caught tying any item to the bridge.
The city has removed more than 34,000 padlocks since 2013. It says it's working on a dedicated space where lovebirds will be able to lock their love.