Sec.13b-17-19. Signs

(1) Advertising signs on private property shall conform to current State administrative regulations concerning outdoor advertising signs, displays and devices adjacent to the national system of interstate and defense highways, limited-access federal aid primary highways, other limited-access highways, and unlimited access federal-aid primary highways.

(2) No person, firm or corporation may erect any sign within 300 feet of any State highway which shall have thereon the words STOP — CAUTION — DANGER — WARNING — SLOW — or any words, characters or symbols intended to give warning or direction to traffic, except by written permission from the Transportation Commissioner. This does not prevent any municipal officer or public utility company from maintaining danger or warning signs required by statute or essential to the operations of a public utility. Such signs shall not bear the name of any product or any advertisement. The Transportation Commissioner or an authorized agent may enter upon private property and remove any violation of the statutes or regulations governing such signs. Fines up to $100 for the first offense and up to $500 for each subsequent offense may be levied.

(3) No signs shall be allowed on State highways except as listed below:

A. State, municipal or federal regulatory or information signs.

B. Church or ecclesiastical society signs. The size of the sign shall not exceed six square feet and no side of any such sign shall exceed three feet. Such sign may identify the church, location, direction and the schedule of religious services. Church signs shall not be erected on any federal-aid highway system except where permitted by federal regulations.

C. Informational signs as listed below. These signs will be erected by the Bureau of Engineering and Highway Operations upon request when these signs will not have a detrimental effect on traffic operations or other traffic control devices. No advertising or commercial name shall appear on the sign except as provided for in Sec. 13b-17-19 (3) g.

(1) Signs directing people to permanent public buildings, parks or recreational facilities, usually requested by the proper town officials.

(2) Signs indicating the existence of natural phenomena (e.g., "Talking Hills of Moodus").

(3) Signs directing attention to sites of historical or cultural interest made usually by societies organized to perpetuate these sites.

(4) Signs signifying cattle or deer crossings, bridle paths, etc.

(5) Signs directing attention to unusual botanical gardens, natural caves, etc.

(6) Signs prohibiting normal use of roadside due to existence of public water supplies, warning signs of health hazards or danger (e.g., "Danger — Quicksand").

(7) Signs directing the public to the "off highway" location of major industries in a community.

D. Entrance and exit signs. These signs shall conform to standards established by the Department of Transportation.

E. Temporary regulatory signs for work within the highway right of way. Permission for these signs will be considered as being granted under the work permit, construction or maintenance contract.

F. Service organization signs. It is suggested that the organizations combine all of their signs on one panel on private property.

G. Specific information signs and business signs on limited access highways. Permits will be issued only after the applicant has been approved by the office of traffic engineering and all provisions in the "regulations for specific information signs and business signs on limited access highways" have been complied with.

(4) Permits for Christmas lights, ornaments and official civic banners (e.g., Red Cross, Community Chest, etc.) to be suspended over a State highway will be issued only for noncommercial purposes. The minimum clearance over the pavement shall be 18 feet. The permittee shall file certificates covering

Public Liability in the minimum amount of $500,000 (single limit) and Property Damage in the amount of $100,000/$200,000 with the District Maintenance Manager. These permits must be for a limited time only.

(5) A penalty of up to $100 fine and imprisonment up to 30 days may be levied against any person or firm who maliciously or wilfully removes, defaces, destroys, knocks down or tampers with any barrier, warning, detour, cautionary, directional or informational sign or light placed on a State highway by the Transportation Commissioner.

(Effective August 27, 1992)