Reasons why this ashtray is placed directly beneath this No Smoking sign:
(1) It cost too much to remove the tray from the door when the no smoking rule was introduced and the sign was hung
(2) There is a completely valid alternative use for the ashtray that does not involve smoking
(3) The no smoking ban is territorially limited to the boundaries of the sign
(4) This is a scene from a Dr. Seuss book about smoking
(5) That is not really an ashtray, it just looks like one
(6) That is not really a “no smoking” sign, it just looks like one
(7) Social experiment to investigate human behavior
Thanks to Jai, a reader from Boston for contributing the picture for this post!
(8) It’s a chance to put out the cigar you lit up prior to seeing this sign.
(9) The sign is on the outside of the door and means you can put out the smokes you were legitimately enjoying outside, prior to entering the lavatory.