An Act To Amend the Laws Relating to Changeable Signs
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0498
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: GLYNN, COLLINS, MARLEY
Amends: 23 MRSA §1914

Legislative Document 
No. 498 
H.P.373 
House of Representatives, February 1,2005 
An Act To Amend the Laws Relating to Changeable Signs 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative GLYNN of South Portland. 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: COLLINS of Wells, MARLEY of Portland, McKENNEY of 
Cumberland. 
Printed <>n recyded pope< 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. I. 23 MRSA §1914. sub-§II-A, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 
268, §3, is amended to read: 
II-A. 
Chanqeable 
siqns. 
Notwithstanding 
subsection 
6, 
paragraphs C and E, changeable signs are not prohibi ted as long 
as the sign complies with all the terms of this subsection. 
The 
Department of Transportation shall administer the provisions of 
this subsection unless the municipality in which the sign is 
located 
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has adopted an ordinance pursuant to paragraph I. 
A. 
As used in this subsection, unless the context otherwise 
indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. 
(1) 
"Changeable 
sign" 
rr.eans 
an 
on-premise 
sign 
created, designed, manufactured or modified in such a 
way that its message may be electronically, digitally 
or mechanically altered by the complete substitution or 
replacement of one display by another on each side. 
(2) 
"Display" means that portion of the surface area 
of a changeable sign that is, or is designed to be or 
is 
capable 
of 
being 
periodically 
altered 
for 
the 
purpose of conveying a message. 
( 3 ) 
"Lot of record" means a lot for which the deed was 
legally 
recorded, 
or 
which 
was 
created 
by 
a 
plan 
legally recorded, 
in the registry of deeds 
for 
the 
county where the lot is located. 
Contiguous lots of 
record in the same ownership are considered one lot. 
(4) 
"Message" means a communication conveyed by means 
of a visual display of text. 
(5) 
"Sign assembly" means the display, border, trim 
and all supporting apparatus, including posts, columns, 
pedestals and foundation. 
(6) 
"Time and temperature sign" means 
a 
changeable 
sign that electronically or mechanically displays the 
time and temperature by the complete substitution or 
replacement 
of 
a 
display 
showing 
the 
time 
with 
a 
display showing the temperature. 
B. 
The display on each side of a changeable sign: 
(1) 
May be changed no more than once every 20 minutes; 
(2) 
Must 
change 
as 
rapidly 
practicable, 
with 
no 
phasing, 
flashing or blending; and 
as 
technologically 
rolling, 
scrolling, 
(3) 
May consist only of alphabetic or numeric text on 
a plain background and may not include any graphic, 
pictorial or photographic images. 
C. 
The display may comprise no more than 50% of the surface 
area of a changeable sign. 
D. 
No more than one changeable sign with 2 sides is allowed 
per lot of record. 
E. 
Changeable signs may not be located so that the message 
is readable from a controlled-access highway or ramp. 
F. 
The highest point of the display of a changeable sign 
may 
not 
exceed 
a 
height 
of 
feet 
above 
either 
the 
centerline of the nearest public way or actual ground level 
adjacent to the sign, whichever is lower. 
G. 
Changeable message board signs existing in accordance 
wi th the requirements of former subsection 11 continue to 
exist if the signs: 
(1) 
Are 
reasonably incapable of being modified or 
reprogrammed to comply with this section as amended; and 
(2) 
Are 
not 
replaced, 
substantially 
rebuilt, 
reconstructed or repaired beyond routine maintenance. 
H. 
The size, intensity of illumination and acceptable rate 
of 
change 
between 
the 
time display and 
the 
temperature 
display of 
a 
time and temperature sign must comply with 
rules, policies or guidelines adopted by the Department of 
Transportation. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this section are 
routine technical rules as defined in Title.5, chapter 375, 
subchapter II-A 2-A. 
Time 
and temperature signs erected 
prior to September 
29, 
1995 
need not comply with those 
rules, policies or guidelines. 
I. 
A municipality may adopt an ordinance that is more or 
less stringent than the minimum standards established in 
this subsection and in rules adopted by the Commissioner of 
Transportation to implement this subsection. 
A municipality 
that adopts an ordinance with provisions that differ from 
statewide 
standards 
shall 
administer 
and 
enforce 
that 
ordinance. 
A municipality may not adopt an ordinance that 
_regulates 
changeabJ.~_~.iglu;_.Located ___ on_land adjacent to any 
portion of the interstate highway system. 
SUMMARY 
This bill authorizes a municipality to adopt an ordinance to 
regulate changeable signs within that municipality except for 
changeable signs located on interstate corridors.