Terms Used In Michigan Laws 252.307b

  • Department: means the state transportation department. See Michigan Laws 252.302
  • Directional sign: means a sign that contains only directional information regarding and the identification of 1 of the following:
  (i) A public or private activity or attraction that is owned or operated by the federal or a state or local government or an agency of the federal or a state or local government. See Michigan Laws 252.302
  • Freeway: means a divided highway of not less than 2 lanes in each direction to which owners or occupants of abutting property or the public do not have a right of ingress or egress to, from, or across the highway, except at points determined by or as otherwise provided by the authorities responsible for the freeway. See Michigan Laws 252.302
  • Interim permit: means a permit that can be utilized by the applicant to construct a sign structure that is visible from a freeway, interstate, or primary highway. See Michigan Laws 252.302
  • Main-traveled way: means the traveled way of a highway on which through traffic is carried. See Michigan Laws 252.302
  • Nationally known: means an activity or attraction that is all of the following:
  •   (i) An active part of a national advertising promotion. See Michigan Laws 252.302
  • Primary highway: means a highway other than an interstate highway or freeway that is a regulated route. See Michigan Laws 252.302
  • Regionally known: means an activity or attraction that is all of the following:
  •   (i) Known throughout this state or the peninsula of this state in which the activity or attraction is located and in 1 or more states adjoining this state. See Michigan Laws 252.302
  • Regulated route: means an interstate highway, freeway, or primary highway required to be regulated under 23 USC 131 and any other route that is required to be regulated or may become required to be regulated by the department under this act or another state or federal statute or legal requirement. See Michigan Laws 252.302
  • Sign: means any outdoor sign, display, device, figure, painting, drawing, message, placard, poster, billboard, or other thing, whether placed individually or on a T-type, V-type, back to back, or double-faced display, that is designed, intended, or used to advertise or inform. See Michigan Laws 252.302
  •   (1) Notwithstanding anything in this act to the contrary, the department may issue a permit for a directional sign for a publicly or privately owned activity or attraction that is nationally known or regionally known, that is of outstanding interest to the traveling public, and that is generally considered to be 1 of the following:
      (a) A natural phenomenon.
      (b) A scenic attraction.
      (c) A historic, educational, cultural, scientific, or religious site.
      (d) An outdoor recreational area.
      (2) A permit issued under this section is exempt from section 7a, is not transferable, and is not eligible to be surrendered for an interim permit.
      (3) A permit issued under this section shall be for a sign that is no larger than 150 square feet in size, no more than 20 feet high, and no more than 20 feet long, including border and trim and excluding supports.
      (4) A sign for which a permit is issued under this section shall not be any of the following:
      (a) Closer than 2,000 feet to an interchange, rest area, park land, scenic area, or intersection at-grade along the interstate system, a freeway, or a primary highway, as measured from the nearest point of the beginning or ending of pavement widening at the exit from, or entrance to, the main-traveled way.
      (b) Closer than 1 mile to another directional sign on either side of the road facing the same direction.
      (c) Located adjacent to a regulated route at a distance greater than 50 air miles from the activity or attraction.
      (5) The department shall not issue a permit under this section if there are more than 3 signs identifying the same activity or attraction facing the same direction on either side of the road along a single regulated route approaching the activity or attraction.
      (6) The message displayed on a sign for which a permit is issued under this section shall only identify the activity or attraction and directional information useful to the traveler in locating the activity or attraction, including mileage, route numbers, and exit numbers. The message displayed on a sign for which a permit is issued under this section shall not include descriptive words or phrases or pictorial or photographic representations of the activity or attraction or the surrounding area.