Opinion ID: 1758822
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the texas highway beautification act

Text: The Texas Highway Beautification Act was passed in response to the Federal Highway Beautification Act, which requires states to effectively control the erection and maintenance of signs within 660 feet of interstate and primary highways and beyond 660 feet in non-urban areas if the signs are designed to be and are visible from such highways. [3] The Federal Act seeks to curb the proliferation of signs along the nation's highways and to protect the public investment in such highways, to promote the safety and recreational value of public travel, and to preserve natural beauty. [4] The Federal Highway Beautification Act provides that if states fail to make provisions for effectively controlling such signs, they risk losing ten percent of their federal highway funds. [5] The express purpose of the Texas Act is to comply with federal law: [I]t is the intent of the legislature to comply with the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 (23 U.S.C. Sections 131, 136, 319) to the extent that it is implemented by the United States Congress. This chapter is conditioned on that law. [6] The Texas Act declares that outdoor advertising erected in non-compliance with its provisions endangers the health, safety, welfare, morals, convenience, and enjoyment of the traveling public and the protection of the public investment in the interstate and primary highway systems. [7] It also constitutes a public nuisance. [8] Thus, the Texas Act prohibits outdoor advertising in a limited area: (1) within 660 feet of a right-of-way, if the advertisement is visible from the interstate or primary highway system, or (2) if outside an urban area, more than 660 feet from the right-of-way, but visible from the highway and erected for the purpose of having its message seen from the highway. [9] Outdoor advertising is defined as: an outdoor sign, display, light, device, figure, painting, drawing, message, plaque, poster, billboard, or other thing designed, intended, or used to advertise or inform if any part of the advertising or information content is visible from the main-traveled way of the interstate or primary system. [10] The Texas Act specifically exempts from regulation: (1) directional or other official outdoor advertising authorized by law, including advertising pertaining to a natural wonder or a scenic or historic attraction; (2) outdoor advertising for the sale or lease of the property on which it is located; (3) outdoor advertising solely for activities conducted on the property on which it is located; (4) outdoor advertising located within 660 feet of the nearest edge of a rightof-way in an area in which the land use: (A) is designated industrial or commercial under authority of law; or (B) is not designated industrial or commercial under authority of law but the land use is consistent with an area designated industrial or commercial; (5) outdoor advertising that has as its purpose the protection of life and property; or (6) outdoor advertising erected on or before October 22, 1965, that the commission, with the approval of the secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, determines to be a landmark of such historic or artistic significance that preservation is consistent with the purposes of this subchapter. [11] In addition, the Texas Act exempts from regulation a sign erected solely for and relating to a public election if the sign: (1) is on private property; (2) is erected not earlier than the 90th day before the date of the election and is removed not later than the 10th day after the election date; (3) is constructed of lightweight material; and (4) has a surface area not larger than 50 square feet. [12]