(a) Legislative findings. — The General Assembly finds that persons and firms post nonofficial signs on utility poles without prior authorization from the pole owner. Placing such signs on these poles is unsafe, both for the person attaching the sign and those in the vicinity of such activity when it occurs, including passersby. Therefore, it is appropriate to authorize the Department of Transportation to treat such signs as subject to immediate removal and other enforcement action under §§ 525 through 527 of this title, without regard to the clear zone distance limitations of those sections.
(b) The Department of Transportation may treat any nonofficial signs placed on utility poles at any location within the State's rights-of-way as artificial obstructions within the clear zone, subject to immediate removal and other enforcement action under §§ 525 through 527 of this title, upon confirmation that the utility company had not previously authorized the placement of such signs.
Structure Delaware Code
Chapter 5. HIGHWAYS, ROADS AND BRIDGES GENERALLY
§ 501. Use of public road or bridge by railway.
§ 502. Closing of roads during repair.
§ 505. Selling of nonuniform traffic-control devices; penalty.
§ 506. Maintenance priority of roads used for school buses or mail routes.
§ 507. Coordinating new development with local transportation improvements.
§ 508. Dedication of new roads for state maintenance; approval required; security.
§ 509. Highways deemed public roads.
§ 510. Speed limit and weight limits on structure.
§ 511. Injury to roads and bridges; double damages; jurisdiction of courts; procedure and appeal.
§ 512. Injury to roads, bridges, etc.; penalty.
§ 513. Trimming of hedges and removal of trimmings; penalty.
§ 515. Maintenance of unfenced junkyards within certain distance of highways; penalty.
§ 516. Creation or maintenance of nuisance within certain limits.
§ 517. Boulevard corporations.
§ 518. Trash within a certain distance of the highway; penalty.
§ 519. William J. Winchester Bridge.
§ 520. Injury to trees, shrubs, and landscaping.
§ 521. Snow removal in nonmunicipal residential communities.
§ 524. Removal of nonofficial signs from utility poles within state rights-of-way.
§ 525. Maintenance of clear zones within rights-of-way.
§ 527. Coordination with other statutes.
§ 528. Restrictions against vehicle sales activities on State rights-of-way.
§ 529. Inspection requirements for bridge owners.
§ 530. Dedication of right-of-way adjacent to a state highway.
§ 531. Connections to roads within restricted age communities.