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1998 SESSION
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 33.1-371.1 as follows:
§ 33.1-371.1. Selective pruning permits; penalty.
A. The Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner shall by permit authorize the selective pruning, within highway rights-of-way, of vegetation that obstructs motorists' view of signs displayed on outdoor advertising structures legally erected and properly maintained along the highways. Such permits shall be subject to such conditions as the Commissioner deems appropriate for the enhancement of highway safety and beautification, including but not limited to the following:
1. All work performed under the permit shall be (i) subject to the direction of the Commissioner or his designee, (ii) supervised on-site by a certified arborist approved by the Commissioner, (iii) completed to the satisfaction of the Department's Environmental Manager or his designee, and (iv) performed solely at the expense of the permittee.
2. All pruning shall be performed in a manner that (i) creates a picture frame effect around the sign and (ii) beautifies the area surrounding the advertising structure. All cutting shall be limited to vegetation with trunk base diameters of less than six inches. Pruning cuts of vegetation with diameters greater than four inches and clear cutting shall not be authorized and shall be strictly prohibited.
3. Any diseased or unsightly vegetation or any vegetation that endangers the health or retards the growth of desirable vegetation may be removed at the discretion of the certified arborist supervising the work. Any such removed vegetation shall be replaced at the permittee's expense with desirable vegetation.
B. The requirements of this section shall not apply to the owner or authorized agent of the owner of any sign, advertisement, or advertising structure exempted from the provisions of this article by § 33.1-355.
C. The Commissioner shall promulgate such regulations as he deems necessary or desirable to carry out the provisions of this section. Such regulations shall include but not necessarily be limited to the following requirements:
1. Every application for a permit submitted under this section shall be accompanied by photographs of the affected site and a detailed description of work proposed to be performed.
2. A fee of $400 shall accompany every application. All such fees shall be paid by the Commissioner into the state treasury, allocated to the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
3. Every applicant shall post a bond payable to the Commonwealth, with surety approved by the Commissioner and in a form approved by the Attorney General, in the sum of $2,500, conditioned on the permittee's fulfillment of all requirements of the permit.
4. No permit shall be issued under this section in order to create a new site for an outdoor advertising structure.
D. Any person found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have violated any provision of this section, any regulation adopted pursuant to this section, or any permit issued under this section, shall, in addition to the penalties provided in § 33.1-377, be prohibited by the court from applying for any other permit under this section for a period of not more than five years.