Effective 28 Aug 1939

227.220. Road markings and guide boards — danger signals — advertising signs — penalty for violation. — 1. The commission is authorized to prescribe uniform marking and guide boards on the state highways, and to cause to be removed all other markings and guide boards and advertising signs, and to remove any other obstruction to the lawful use of a state highway, including the right to remove or trim trees located within or overhanging the right-of-way of a state highway, and to prohibit and regulate the erection of advertising or other signs on the right-of-way of the state highways. The commission is authorized to erect, or cause to be erected danger signals or warning signs at railroad crossings, highway intersections or other places along the state highways which the commission deem to be dangerous. After plans and specifications and estimates have been made and filed by the engineer and approved by the commission it shall be the duty of the commission to advertise for bids, as is now provided for letting of contracts for constructing the state highway system as provided in section 227.100, for the erection and maintenance of marking signs, guide boards, danger signals or warning signs, and to authorize the display of such signals, signs or guide boards advertising, which, in the opinion of the commission, is not unsightly or does not obstruct the view of such signals, signs or boards, in consideration of such signals, signs or boards being erected and maintained without cost of the state, and the commission is authorized to prohibit the display of any other advertising matter within a distance of three hundred feet of such signals, signs or boards so as not to obstruct the view or impair the purpose of the same.

2. Any person who erects or maintains advertising signs, marking or guide boards or signals on the right-of-way of any state highway without the written permission of the commission, or any person who willfully damages, removes or obstructs the view of sign boards or signals, erected or maintained on the highways without the written permission of the commission, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor; provided, that any person, firm, or corporation who shall damage or destroy any part of the state highway system by the doing of any act in violation of law shall be liable to such commission for the amount of such damages; and such damages may be recovered by civil suit in any court of competent jurisdiction, which suit may be brought in the name of the state highway commission of Missouri, as plaintiff against the person, firm or corporation so causing such damage or destruction; and in the event such damage or destruction shall be caused by the use of vehicles on such state highway which are forbidden by law, or by the use of vehicles carrying loads in excess of the maximum weight prescribed by law, or by vehicles operated at a rate of speed in excess of that prescribed by law, then the owner of such vehicle shall be personally liable for the amount of such damage or destruction which may be recovered in like manner; and the amount of such damages, when collected, shall be deposited in and become a part of the state road fund; and provided further, that nothing in this section shall be so construed as to relieve any person, firm or corporation or owner of vehicles from the criminal liability which may be provided by law on account of the doing of such prohibited acts.

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(RSMo 1939 § 8755)

Prior revision: 1929 § 8107