00 CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 181(STA) 01 "An Act relating to a tourist oriented directional sign program and to penalties 02 for violations related to outdoor advertising." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; INTENT. (a) The Alaska State Legislature finds 05 that 06 (1) the scenic beauty of Alaska is unquestionably unique and is revered by 07 residents of the state as well as visitors to Alaska; 08 (2) it is imperative that the State of Alaska maintain its scenic highway system 09 throughout the state for the benefit of residents of Alaska and visitors to Alaska; 10 (3) it is also imperative that residents of Alaska and visitors to Alaska travel in 11 a safe manner on the state highway system and that the safety of the residents of Alaska and 12 visitors to Alaska be assured by a system of directional signing for traveler oriented attractions 13 and services. 14 (b) It is the intent of the Alaska State Legislature to provide better information to 01 motorists by authorizing a well planned and regulated system of directional signing for traveler 02 oriented attractions and services in a manner similar to the current tourist oriented directional 03 sign program that has been established under policies of the Department of Transportation and 04 Public Facilities and in a manner consistent with standards established by the Federal Highway 05 Administration and the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 06 * Sec. 2. AS 19.25.105(a) is amended to read: 07  (a) Outdoor advertising may not be erected or maintained within 660 feet of 08 the nearest edge of the right-of-way and visible from the main-traveled way of the 09 interstate, primary, or secondary highways in this state except the following: 10  (1) directional and other official signs and notices which include, but 11 are not limited to, signs and notices pertaining to natural wonders, scenic and historic 12 attractions, which are required or authorized by law, and which shall conform to 13 federal standards for interstate and primary systems; 14  (2) signs, displays, and devices advertising the sale or lease of property 15 upon which they are located or advertising activities conducted on the property; 16  (3) signs determined by the state, subject to concurrence of the United 17 States Department of Transportation, to be landmark signs, including signs on farm 18 structures, or natural surfaces, of historic or artistic significance, the preservation of 19 which would be consistent with the provisions of this chapter; 20  (4) directional signs and notices pertaining to schools; 21  (5) advertising on bus benches or bus shelters, and adjacent trash 22 receptacles, if the state determines that the advertising conforms to local, state, and 23 federal standards for interstate and primary highways; 24  (6) tourist oriented directional signs erected under (e) of this 25 section. 26  * Sec. 3. AS 19.25.105(d) is amended to read: 27  (d) Outdoor advertising may not be erected or maintained within the right-of- 28 way of an interstate, primary, or secondary highway except that outdoor advertising is allowed 29 on 30   (1) bus benches and bus shelters, and adjacent trash receptacles, located 31 within the right-of-way under the authority of a permit issued under AS 19.25.200, if 01 the bus benches or bus shelters are located within a borough or unified municipality 02 and the buses that stop at that location operate during the entire year; and 03  (2) tourist oriented directional signs erected under (e) of this 04 section. 05 * Sec. 4. AS 19.25.105 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 06  (e) The department shall establish a tourist oriented directional sign program. 07 The department shall erect, or permit the erection of, directional signs for traveler 08 oriented attractions and services within and outside of the rights-of-way of interstate, 09 primary, and secondary highways in this state. The signs may be erected on private 10 land adjacent to the rights-of-way of interstate, primary, and secondary highways in 11 this state if permission for the erection of the sign is granted by the owner of the 12 private land. The sign, excluding posts, must be 90 inches in width and 18 inches in 13 height and may contain only the name of the attraction or the business providing the 14 attraction or service, an icon representing the attraction or service, the distance to the 15 attraction or service, and a directional arrow. The location, design, and content of 16 signs must be consistent with standards approved by the Federal Highway 17 Administration. 18 * Sec. 5. AS 19.25.130 is amended to read: 19  Sec. 19.25.130. PENALTY FOR VIOLATION. A person who violates 20 AS 19.25.080 - 19.25.180, or a regulation adopted under AS 19.25.080 - 19.25.180 21 [THEM], is guilty of a violation [MISDEMEANOR] and upon conviction is 22 punishable by a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $1,000. 23 * Sec. 6. AS 19.45.002 is amended to read: 24  Sec. 19.45.002. PENALTIES. A person who violates a [ANY] provision of 25 AS 19.05 - AS 19.25, other than a provision of AS 19.25.080 - 19.25.180, is guilty 26 of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not less than $10 nor 27 more than $500, or by imprisonment in jail for a period not to exceed one year, or by 28 both. 29 * Sec. 7. 17 AAC 20.010 is annulled.