75-15-131. Entry to inspect — notice of unlawful advertising — remedial action. (1) The department may enter upon lands bearing outdoor advertising and make examination of such advertising.

Terms Used In Montana Code 75-15-131

  • Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Commission: means the transportation commission of Montana. See Montana Code 75-15-103
  • Department: means the department of transportation. See Montana Code 75-15-103
  • Outdoor advertising: means any outdoor sign, display, light, device, figure, painting, drawing, message, plaque, poster, billboard, or other structure that is designed, intended, or used to advertise or inform and that is visible from any place on the main-traveled way of the interstate or primary systems. See Montana Code 75-15-103
  • Writing: includes printing. See Montana Code 1-1-203

(2)The department shall give notice in writing, either by certified mail or by personal service, to the owner or occupant of the land on which advertising believed to be unlawful is located and to the owner of the outdoor advertising structure if the latter is known or, if unknown, by posting notice in a conspicuous place on the structure of its intention to remove the unlawful advertising. Within 45 days after the notice, the owner of the land or of the structure may make a written request for a hearing before the commission to show cause why the structure should not be removed.

(3)If a hearing before the commission is not requested or if there is no appeal taken from the commission’s decision at the hearing or if the commission’s decision is affirmed on appeal, the department shall immediately remove or cause to be removed the unlawful outdoor advertising. The department may, upon final determination by the commission that an item of outdoor advertising is unlawful, enter upon lands bearing such advertising and remove the unlawful advertising.

(4)The owner of the structure and the owner or occupant of the land are jointly and severally liable for the costs of the removal.