                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

SIGNS OR ADVERTISING ON ROCKS, POLES, ETC., WITHIN LIMITS OF HIGHWAY; CIVIL
PENALTY (§ 33.2-1224)

Any person who in any manner (i) paints, prints, places, puts, or affixes any
sign or advertisement upon or to any rock, stone, tree, fence, stump, pole,
mile-board, milestone, danger-sign, guide-sign, guidepost, highway sign,
historical marker, building, or other object lawfully within the limits of any
highway or (ii) erects, paints, prints, places, puts, or affixes any sign or
advertisement within the limits of any highway is subject to a civil penalty of
$100. Each occurrence shall be subject to a separate penalty. All civil
penalties collected under this section shall be paid into the Highway
Maintenance and Operating Fund. Signs or advertisements placed within the limits
of the highway are hereby declared a public and private nuisance and may be
forthwith removed, obliterated, or abated by the Commissioner of Highways or his
representatives without notice. The Commissioner of Highways may collect the
cost of such removal, obliteration, or abatement from the person erecting,
painting, printing, placing, putting, affixing, or using such sign or
advertisement. When no one is observed erecting, painting, printing, placing,
putting, or affixing such sign or advertisement, the person, firm, or
corporation being advertised shall be presumed to have placed the sign or
advertisement and shall be punished accordingly. Such presumption, however,
shall be rebuttable by competent evidence. In addition, the Commissioner of
Highways or his representative may seek to enjoin any recurring violator of this
section. The Commissioner of Highways may enter into agreements with any local
governing body authorizing local law-enforcement agencies or other local
governmental entities to act as agents of the Commissioner of Highways for the
purpose of (i) enforcing the provisions of this section and (ii) collecting the
penalties and costs provided for in this section. Any such agreement may provide
that penalties and costs collected pursuant to such agreement shall be paid as
agreed.
		The provisions of this section shall not apply to signs or outdoor advertising
regulated under other provisions of this chapter.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 33-319; 1970, c. 322, § 33.1-373; 1993, c. 538; 1994, c.
696; 2012, c. 739; 2013, c. 457; 2014, c. 805.