Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §505-A is enacted to read:

§505-A.__Removal or destruction of street signs or traffic

control signs

1.__As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A.__"Municipality" means a city, town, special district, county, plantation or municipal village or corporation within the State.

B.__"Street sign" means a marker placed on a public way that denotes a physical address that has been erected by officials of the municipality having jurisdiction over the public way.

C.__"Traffic control sign" means an official route marker; warning sign; sign directing traffic to or from a community, bridge, ferry or airport; or sign regulating traffic that has been erected by officers having jurisdiction over the public way.

2.__A person may not intentionally destroy, mutilate, deface, injure or remove a street sign or traffic control sign.

3.__Removal or destruction of a street sign or traffic control sign is punishable as set forth in this subsection.

A.__A person convicted of a violation of this section who is at least 18 years of age is subject to a minimum fine of $500, none of which may be waived by the court.

B.__A person who is less than 18 years of age who is adjudicated to have violated this section must pay restitution in the amount necessary to reimburse the municipality for the street sign or traffic control sign and perform at least 8 hours of community service in the affected municipality.

SUMMARY

This bill prohibits the removal or destruction of street signs or traffic control signs. A person who is at least 18 years of age who is convicted of removing or destroying a street or traffic control sign is subject to a minimum penalty of $500. A juvenile who is adjudicated to have committed the crime is