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.
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.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 33.2 - Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems
Chapter 12 - Outdoor Advertising in Sight of Public Highways
§ 33.2-1200. Policy; definitions
§ 33.2-1201. Enforcement of provisions by Commissioner of Highways
§ 33.2-1202. Territory to which article applies
§ 33.2-1203. Entry upon lands; hindering Commissioner of Highways or agent
§ 33.2-1204. Excepted signs, advertisements, and advertising structures
§ 33.2-1205. License required of outdoor advertisers
§ 33.2-1206. Revocation of license and judicial review
§ 33.2-1207. Bond required from out-of-state licensee
§ 33.2-1209. Applications for permits; fees
§ 33.2-1210. Duration and renewal of permit
§ 33.2-1211. Revocation of permit
§ 33.2-1213. Appeal from refusal or revocation of permit
§ 33.2-1214. Transfer of licenses and permits to successor concerns
§ 33.2-1215. Identification of advertising structure or advertisement
§ 33.2-1216. Certain advertisements or structures prohibited
§ 33.2-1218. Removal of billboard signs under this chapter prohibited without just compensation
§ 33.2-1219. Maintenance and repair of nonconforming billboard signs
§ 33.2-1220. Regulations and agreements with United States implementing § 33.2-1217
§ 33.2-1221. Selective pruning permits; fees; penalty
§ 33.2-1222. Tree-trimming policies
§ 33.2-1223. Pasting advertisements prohibited in certain instances
§ 33.2-1224. Signs or advertising on rocks, poles, etc., within limits of highway; civil penalty
§ 33.2-1225. Commissioner of Highways may enter into certain agreements; civil penalties
§ 33.2-1226. Harmony of regulations
§ 33.2-1227. Violation a nuisance; abatement
§ 33.2-1228. Disposition of fees
§ 33.2-1229. Penalties for violation
§ 33.2-1230. Adjustment or relocation of certain billboard signs
§ 33.2-1231. Construction of article
§ 33.2-1232. Prohibition of false and misleading signs
§ 33.2-1233. Penalty for violation of § 33.2-1232
§ 33.2-1234. Removal of false or misleading signs by Commissioner of Highways