SB 56: "An Act relating to tourist oriented directional signs that are 90 inches in width and 18 inches in height, relating to penalties for violations related to outdoor advertising, and annulling a regulation of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities."
00SENATE BILL NO. 56 01 "An Act relating to tourist oriented directional signs that are 90 inches in width 02 and 18 inches in height, relating to penalties for violations related to outdoor 03 advertising, and annulling a regulation of the Department of Transportation and 04 Public Facilities." 05 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 06 * Section 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; INTENT. (a) The Alaska State Legislature finds 07 that 08 (1) the scenic beauty of Alaska is unquestionably unique and is revered by 09 residents of the state as well as visitors to Alaska; 10 (2) it is imperative that the State of Alaska maintain its scenic highway system 11 throughout the state for the benefit of residents of Alaska and visitors to Alaska; 12 (3) it is also imperative that residents of Alaska and visitors to Alaska travel in 13 a safe manner on the state highway system and that the safety of the residents of Alaska and 14 visitors to Alaska be assured by a system of directional signing for traveler oriented attractions
01 and services. 02 (b) It is the intent of the Alaska State Legislature to provide better information to 03 motorists by authorizing a well planned and regulated system of directional signing for traveler 04 oriented attractions and services in a manner similar to the current tourist oriented directional 05 sign program that has been established under policies of the Department of Transportation and 06 Public Facilities and in a manner consistent with standards established by the Federal Highway 07 Administration and the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 08 * Sec. 2. AS 19.25.105(a) is amended to read: 09 (a) Outdoor advertising may not be erected or maintained within 660 feet of 10 the nearest edge of the right-of-way and visible from the main-traveled way of the 11 interstate, primary, or secondary highways in this state except the following: 12 (1) directional and other official signs and notices which include, but 13 are not limited to, signs and notices pertaining to natural wonders, scenic and historic 14 attractions, which are required or authorized by law, and which shall conform to 15 federal standards for interstate and primary systems; 16 (2) signs, displays, and devices advertising the sale or lease of property 17 upon which they are located or advertising activities conducted on the property; 18 (3) signs determined by the state, subject to concurrence of the United 19 States Department of Transportation, to be landmark signs, including signs on farm 20 structures, or natural surfaces, of historic or artistic significance, the preservation of 21 which would be consistent with the provisions of this chapter; 22 (4) directional signs and notices pertaining to schools; 23 (5) advertising on bus benches or bus shelters, and adjacent trash 24 receptacles, if the state determines that the advertising conforms to local, state, and 25 federal standards for interstate and primary highways; 26 (6) tourist oriented directional signs erected under (e) of this 27 section. 28 * Sec. 3. AS 19.25.105(d) is amended to read: 29 (d) Outdoor advertising may not be erected or maintained within the right-of- 30 way of an interstate, primary, or secondary highway except that outdoor advertising is allowed 31 on
01 (1) bus benches and bus shelters, and adjacent trash receptacles, located 02 within the right-of-way under the authority of a permit issued under AS 19.25.200, if 03 the bus benches or bus shelters are located within a borough or unified municipality 04 and the buses that stop at that location operate during the entire year; and 05 (2) tourist oriented directional signs erected under (e) of this 06 section. 07 * Sec. 4. AS 19.25.105 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 08 (e) The department shall establish a tourist oriented directional sign program. 09 The department shall erect, or permit the erection of, directional signs for traveler 10 oriented attractions and services within and outside of the rights-of-way of interstate, 11 primary, and secondary highways in areas zoned industrial or commercial or in 12 unzoned areas determined to be commercial or industrial areas. The signs may be 13 erected on private land adjacent to the rights-of-way of interstate, primary, and 14 secondary highways in this state if permission for the erection of the sign is granted 15 by the owner of the private land. The sign, excluding posts, must be 90 inches in 16 width and 18 inches in height and may contain only the name of the attraction or the 17 business providing the attraction or service, an icon representing the attraction or 18 service, the distance to the attraction or service, and a directional arrow. The location 19 of directional signs within a right-of-way and the design and content of directional 20 signs must be consistent with standards approved by the Federal Highway 21 Administration. The department shall retain control over the location of directional 22 signs. In scenic areas, the department shall control the location of directional signs in 23 a manner that maintains the quality of scenic areas. 24 * Sec. 5. AS 19.25.130 is amended to read: 25 Sec. 19.25.130. Penalty for violation. A person who violates AS 19.25.080 26 - 19.25.180, or a regulation adopted under AS 19.25.080 - 19.25.180 [THEM], is guilty 27 of a violation [MISDEMEANOR] and upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not 28 less than $50 nor more than $1,000. 29 * Sec. 6. AS 19.45.002 is amended to read: 30 Sec. 19.45.002. Penalties. A person who violates a [ANY] provision of 31 AS 19.05 - AS 19.25, other than a provision of AS 19.25.080 - 19.25.180, is guilty
01 of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not less than $10 nor 02 more than $500, or by imprisonment in jail for a period not to exceed one year, or by 03 both. 04 * Sec. 7. 17 AAC 20.010 is annulled.