If you spot purple paint on your early morning hike, it may be best to turn around and find another route, because you might be trespassing.
Many U.S. states abide by the “purple paint law,” which allows land and property owners to use purple paint marks on trees and fences to deter people from trespassing. Using the paint is akin to posting a “No Trespassing” sign, although not everyone knows what it means.
So far, more than 20 states have a “purple paint law” in place, the Hudson Valley Post reported. Officials chose the color purple because it stands out in a natural setting, is not used in the forestry industry and is a hue people who are colorblind can identify, the outlet said.
Purple paint is also a preferred option over signs because property owners often struggle with keeping signs up due to wind, rain or even vandals, according to Carolina Forestry & Realty.
While purple is used in most U.S. states, some states with similar laws designate different colors, such as orange, blue, silver, yellow and red. For example, the paint used in Maryland is blue since the state’s law was passed in 1989, according to the University of Maryland Extension.
A no trespassing sign is nailed to a tree and chunks of concrete are spray-painted with purple, a common “no trespassing” indicator.
What U.S. states have the ‘purple paint law’?
According to AL.com, the U.S. states with laws identifying purple paint (or designated colors) for “no trespassing” include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
The laws have some restrictions depending on the state. For instance, in Pennsylvania, the statute is effective in all but Philadelphia and Allegheny counties.
What happens if you violate the ‘purple paint law’?
Consequences of violating the “purple paint law” vary depending on the state, but they include charges, fines and possibly jail time.
According to David M. Lurie, a Missouri-based criminal defense attorney, not knowing what the lines mean and unintentionally trespassing is “not a valid defense.” He added that the punishment for crossing the lines could vary depending on what happened after “you went onto someone else’s property by mistake.”
“If you harmed an animal or took something, that would be yet another offense,” the attorney says. “If you did no harm and left when you were told to leave or realized you were on someone’s private property, many property owners wouldn’t call law enforcement.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Purple paint law’: See which states have it, what it means.
