Section 230:83 - Commissioner of Transportation to Establish Program; Rulemaking In addition to the powers and duties of the commissioner of transportation under this title, the commissioner:
I. Shall establish a sponsor-a-highway program by directly involving citizens, groups, associations, and the business community in the beautification of the state's highways.II. May recognize a citizen, group, association, or business that sponsors and/or provides aesthetic maintenance on a section of highway by erecting a suitable recognition sign meeting the following criteria:(a) The sign may consist of one or more panels, and shall be set in a location determined by the department to constitute no unreasonable safety risk to the public.(b) The size, materials, method of installation, text, font, and color of the sign shall meet minimum standards of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices approved by the Federal Highway Administrator as the National Standard in accordance with Title 23 U.S. Code, Sections 109(d), 114(a), 227, 315, and 402(a), and 23 CFR 655, 49 CFR 1.48(b)(8), 1.48(b)(33), and 1.48(c)(2), as the same may be amended from time to time, provided that no sign may exceed 20 square feet in size.(c) The citizen, group, association, or business shall be identified in a single section or panel constituting no more than 1/2 of the total area of the recognition sign.III. Shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A to implement the provisions of this subdivision, which rules shall permit: (a) Any section of a recognition sign not in compliance with this section to remain in place only until existing written agreements with the sponsor have expired; and(b) Any section of a recognition sign that describes the former adopt-a-highway program to remain until the sign has served its useful life.Amended by 2016 , 251: 1, eff. 8/9/2016.1993, 177:2. 2002, 234 : 4 , eff. July 16, 2002. 2016, 251 : 1 , eff. Aug. 9, 2016.