New Law Gives More Rights to Property Owners “Purple Paint Law” gives landowners option of marking trees or posts to prevent trespassing

                       A new law signed this week by

                      Governor Pat Quinn allows Illinois landowners or

                      lessees the option of using purple paint markings on

                      trees or posts on their property as a “no

                      trespassing” notice.  The “Purple Paint Law” is

                      designed as an alternative which Illinois landowners

                      can use to protect their property from trespassing.

                      The new law – Senate Bill 1914 – was signed by

                      Governor Quinn on Aug. 22 and took effect

                      immediately.

                      While the new “Purple Paint Law” gives Illinois

                      landowners or lessees the option of marking their

                      property with a series of defined purple paint

                      markings on trees or posts, additional notice is

                      still required through 2012.   Until January 1, 2013

                      those landowners using purple marks must continue to

                      issue a “no trespassing” notice either by oral or

                      written notice to individuals or by posting

                      appropriate signage at the main entrance to the

                      property in question.

                      Provisions of the new law require that the purple

                      paint marks used to designate “no trespassing” notice

                      must be either:

                      1.      A vertical line of at least 8 inches in

                      length.  The bottom of the mark shall be between 3

                      feet and 5 feet high.  Each mark shall be no more

                      than 100 feet from another such mark and be readily

                      visible to any person approaching the property.

                      Or

                      2.      A post capped or otherwise marked on at least

                      its top 2 inches.  The bottom of the cap or mark

                      shall be between 3 feet and 5 feet 6 inches high.

                      Posts so marked shall be no more than 36 feet apart

                      and be readily visible to any person approaching the

                      property.  Prior to applying a cap or mark that is

                      visible from both sides of a fence shared by

                      different property owners or lessees, all such owners

                      or lessees must agree to the decision to post their

                      own property.

                      Trespassing on property marked for “no trespassing”

                      is a Class B misdemeanor, except when a person

                      trespasses using a motor vehicle if the marked area

                      is an orchard; an enclosed area containing livestock;

                      a barn or other agricultural building containing

                      livestock; or a field that is used or capable of

                      being used for growing crops.  Such trespassing

                      constitutes a Class A misdemeanor.

                      No landowner or lessee is authorized to post purple

                      marks if doing so would violate any applicable law,

                      rule, ordinance, order, covenant, bylaw, declaration,

                      regulation, restriction, contract, or other

                      instrument.

                      The new “Purple Paint Law” does not apply to real

                      property located in a municipality of over 2,000,000

                      inhabitants.

                      For more details on the new law, please visit

                      http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/PublicAct97-0477.aspx