2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 23: TRANSPORTATION › Part 1: STATE HIGHWAY LAW › Chapter 21: MAINE TRAVELER INFORMATION SERVICES › 23 §1913-A. Categorical signs

§1913-A. Categorical signs
1.  Signs within the public right-of-way.
The following signs may be erected and maintained within the public right-of-way without license or permit as long as they conform to applicable provisions of this Title and rules adopted pursuant to this Title:
A. Signs bearing noncommercial messages erected by a duly constituted governmental body, a soil and water conservation district or a regional planning district;   [PL 2015, c. 403, §4 (AMD).]
B. Signs located on or in the rolling stock of common carriers, except those that are determined by the commissioner to be circumventing the intent of this chapter. Circumvention includes, but is not limited to, signs that are continuously in the same location or signs that extend beyond the height, width or length of the vehicle;   [PL 2013, c. 529, §8 (AMD).]
C. Signs on registered and inspected motor vehicles, except those that are determined by the commissioner to be circumventing the intent of this chapter. Circumvention includes, but is not limited to, signs that are continuously in the same location or signs that extend beyond the height, width or length of the vehicle;   [PL 2013, c. 529, §8 (AMD).]
D. Signs with an area of not more than 260 square inches identifying stops or fare zone limits of motor buses;   [PL 2013, c. 529, §8 (AMD).]
E. [PL 2015, c. 403, §4 (RP).]
F. [PL 2015, c. 403, §4 (RP).]
G. Hand-held signs not affixed to the ground or buildings;   [PL 2015, c. 403, §4 (AMD).]
H. [PL 2015, c. 403, §4 (RP).]
I. Adopt-A-Highway Program signs allowed under section 1117; and   [PL 2015, c. 403, §4 (AMD).]
J. [PL 2015, c. 403, §4 (RP).]
K. [PL 2015, c. 403, §4 (RP).]
L. Temporary signs placed within the public right-of-way for a maximum of 12 weeks per calendar year, except that a temporary sign may not be placed within the public right-of-way for more than 6 weeks from January 1st to June 30th or for more than 6 weeks from July 1st to December 31st. A temporary sign may not be placed within 30 feet of another temporary sign bearing the same or substantially the same message. A temporary sign may not exceed 4 feet by 8 feet in size. A sign under this paragraph must include or be marked with the name and address of the individual, entity or organization that placed the sign within the public right-of-way and the date the sign was erected within the public right-of-way.   [PL 2019, c. 594, §1 (AMD).]
[PL 2019, c. 594, §1 (AMD).]
2.  Types of signs outside the right-of-way.
[PL 2015, c. 403, §4 (RP).]
2-A.  Signs outside the public right-of-way.
Except as provided in section 1914, a sign may be erected and maintained outside the public right-of-way as long as it does not exceed 50 square feet in size.
[PL 2015, c. 403, §4 (NEW).]
3.  Regulations.
[PL 2013, c. 529, §8 (RP).]
4.  Zones.
[PL 2015, c. 403, §4 (RP).]
5.  Prohibited practices.
None of the signs referred to in this section may be painted or drawn upon a rock or other natural feature or erected or maintained on:
A. A traffic control sign or device;   [PL 2019, c. 228, §2 (NEW).]
B. A public utility pole or fixture;   [PL 2019, c. 228, §2 (NEW).]
C. A rotary traffic island;   [PL 2019, c. 228, §2 (NEW).]
D. A tree in a public right-of-way;   [PL 2019, c. 228, §2 (NEW).]
E. A control-of-access area; or   [PL 2019, c. 228, §2 (NEW).]
F. A median less than 6 feet wide.   [PL 2019, c. 228, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 2019, c. 228, §2 (RPR).]
6.  Interstate system.
None of the signs referred to in this section, other than signs conforming with subsection 1, paragraphs B and C and logo signs erected pursuant to section 1912‑B, may be located within the right-of-way limits of the interstate system or within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the interstate system and erected in such a fashion that the message may be read from the interstate highway.
[PL 1995, c. 416, §2 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1981, c. 318, §3 (NEW). RR 1991, c. 2, §89 (COR). PL 1991, c. 387, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 416, §2 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 635, §§2,3 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 152, §§G2,3 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 529, §8 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 403, §4 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 321, §1 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 228, §2 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 594, §1 (AMD).