Milford chronicle., 1929-06-07
LAWS ON ROAD SIGNS
IN ALL BUT 2 STATES
Connecticut, Massachusetts And
Vermont Impose Rigid Regulations

In a survey of State laws govern
ing commercial advertising signs
along public highways made by the
United States Bureau of Public
Roads, it has been found that such
laws range all the way from the
most general of regulations to GER
tain well-defined stipulations. Only
I seven States are without State regu-
lation-South Carolina, Arkansas,
Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma,
Kansas and Wyoming.
Connecticut, Massachusetts and
Vermont have the most rigid laws.
Before any agency may erect COM
mercial advertising signs in these
States, it must be licensed by the
State authorities at certain annual
fees, and if it does not reside in the
| State, a bond must be furnished.
Each license must show a number
and the date Of expiration.
Connecticut levies a license fee of
$100 a year and an annual permit
fee of SO for every 300 square feet
or less of advertising space to SO for
between 600 and 900 square feet.
Fees apply to each side of each
panel. Signs of more than 900
square feet are not permitted.
In Massachusetts the fee is fixed
with regard to administrative costs
and varies throughout the State.
Vermont levies an annual license
fee of three cents for each square
foot of advertising space.
In Connecticut each application
for a permit must bear the written
consent of the owner of the prop
erty upon which the sign is to be
erected. Each permit must state the
size of the display, and each sign
must show the name of the agency
displaying, owning or leasing the
billboard. No direction or danger
sign may bear advertising.
In Vermont, the application for
license shall name the property
upon which advertising is to be dis
played, the population of the city,
village or town, the size and a de-
scription of the sign and the dis
tance at which it may be read from
State highway, railway track, pub
lie park or navigable water.
The authorities of Connecticut,
Massachusetts and Vermont have
the right to exact fines for non-con-
forming signs and to remove them.
The cost of removal, after due no
tice, is collected from the agencies
or from the sureties on bonds.
Connecticut imposes a fine of $1OO
for each nonconforming sign, Mass
achusetts a fine of not more than
$100, with a further $500 for con-
tinued violation, and Vermont a fine
of $100 or Imprisonment of thirty
days, or both.
In Connecticut, any person who
shall deposit, throw, affix or MAIN
tain any advertisement within the
limits of any public highway or on
private property without the con-
sent of the owners is subject to a
fine of not more than $50 or impris-
onment of not more than six months
or both.
Advertising signs in Connecticut
may not be placed within fifteen feet
Of the right of way of highway,
and in Massachusetts within 500
feet. In these two States, cities and
towns may further regulate and re-
strict advertising signs in a manner
not inconsistent with State laws.
Seven other States - Florida,
Georgia, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ne
vada, North Carolina and Tennes-
see-impose fees for advertising
signs. Mississippi collects a fee OF
seventy-five cents for each sign OF
from ten to 100 square feet of area
$1.50 for an area of between 100 and
300 square feet, and $3.50 for al
area of more than 300 square feet