Florida county jail unveils neon 'VACANCY' sign

BUNNELL, Fla. (FOX 13) - In Flagler County, the jail is known as the “Green Roof Inn.”

It’s a name that Sheriff Rick Staly coined, and has stuck, creating new signage surrounding the Flagler County Detention Facility.

The most eye-catching one is a retro-neon sign complete with a blinking “VACANCY” light, purchased with drug-seized assets.

Below the sign is a list of accommodations that the “guests,” which are inmates in this case, but abide to:
- No Privacy
- Group bathrooms and showers
- No meal selection
- Free transportation to courthouse or state prison
- Designer jewelry to wear: a.k.a. handcuffs and leg irons
- Free designer clothing: color coordinated jumpsuit and shoes

Another sign is located at the jail exit for the inmates who were released, which starts with “Thank you for visiting the Green Roof Inn.”

It also reminds them that if they break the law again, there will be a bed “waiting for you. Enjoy your freedom. Stay crime free.”

“The purpose of the signs is crime prevention,” Sheriff Staly said in a statement. “It is a warning to potential offenders that the jail is not a 5-star hotel. When you are 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.”