A love lock or love padlock is a lock that sweethearts attach to a bridge, fence, gate, or similar public fixture to symbolize their love. Typically the sweethearts’ names or initials are inscribed on the padlock, and its key is thrown away to symbolize unbreakable love.

Since the 2000s, love locks have proliferated at various locations worldwide. Most municipal authorities regard them as litter or vandalism, and there is some cost to their removal.

However, some authorities embrace them and use them for fundraising projects or tourism attractions. Now the Brooklyn Bridge light posts and the fences along the Brooklyn piers are now the targets of love locks.

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO VIEW SLIDESHOW

A view of love padlocks attached to the railings of Pier 1 in Brooklyn across the East River in New York City on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) An older style of lock is attached on the cable railings of Pier 1 in Brooklyn on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) A view of love padlocks attached to the cables of Pier 1 in Brooklyn on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Visitors have been attaching locks with sentimental messages to railings like these on the Brooklyn waterfront as symbolic acts of affection. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) A view of love padlocks attached on the railings of Pier 1 next to the Brooklyn Bridge on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) An older style lock hangs on a light post on the Brooklyn Bridge on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
The love-lock trend, which some say began in Rome in 2006, has caught on at various locations worldwide, including Pier 1 in Brooklyn, shown here on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) A view of an inscribed love lock attached to the railings of Pier 1 in Brooklyn on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) The love-lock trend surfaced in Paris in 2008, but it started to pose problems in 2012. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
A view of love padlocks attached to the cable railings of Pier 1 in Brooklyn on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) A wide variety of padlocks symbolizing love are attached to light posts on the Brooklyn Bridge on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) One bridge worker said that there was no urgency to cut locks off on the Brooklyn Bridge, shown here on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Love padlocks and other items are attached to light posts on the Brooklyn Bridge on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) Love padlocks attached to light posts on the Brooklyn Bridge on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) Traffic moves along below the love padlocks on the Brooklyn Bridge on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Along with the love padlocks attached to light posts on the Brooklyn Bridge, clothing and headphones, seen here on August 23, 2016, are also sometimes left behind. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) Love padlocks attached to light posts on the Brooklyn Bridge on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) In 2015, more than 45 tons of padlocks, like the ones seen here on the Brooklyn Bridge, were removed from several bridges in Paris. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)
Miriam and José attached a love lock, seen here on August 23, 2016, to a light post on the Brooklyn Bridge. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) A variety of padlocks symbolizing love are attached to light posts on the Brooklyn Bridge on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News) Love padlocks attached to light posts and fences on the Brooklyn Bridge on August 23, 2016. (Gordon Donovan/Yahoo News)

Photos taken August 2016 using a Canon EOS-1D X DSLR with a EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom Lens.