Ever Seen a Fence or a Tree Painted Purple in the Countryside? There’s a Good Reason Behind It
For city dwellers, watching beautiful countryside homes and ranches surrounded by picket fences is a refreshing sight. In fact, one might even stumble upon a purple fence. Many might not be aware of the purpose served by a purple fence or a tree popping out of the blue, but it is meant for the benefit of travelers or hikers out to have a good vacation. Summers call for a vacation to a faraway place amidst the lush greenery of the suburbs. When at it, these purple-painted trees and fences steer travelers off people’s private properties or places that restrict trespassing, per a Reader’s Digest report.
Awareness and observance go a long way when embarking on outdoor adventures like hiking or long drives. While purple fence laws are not consistent throughout all the states in the U.S., the effort is meant to be understood as a sign for no trespassing in the area. Text signboards are generally used to inform travelers, but with keeping their wear and tear factor in mind, purple fences are a more sustainable option for the same.
A simple coat of purple paint remains intact for long durations and can also be easily spotted on a good summer day. The color is also inclusive of people with color blindness as it can be distinguished from other colors despite the condition. A simple stripe of purple paint of any sort does the work, but it must be vertical. The dimensions for the stripe are one inch wide, eight inches long, three to five feet off the ground, and should be less than 100 feet apart. In the case of purple trees, only latex or spray paint may be used that is conspicuous while encircling the protected zone accurately.
However, one has to be well aware of the local laws of an area, as the report stated only half the states abide by the little-known purple fence law. Texas has been implementing this law since 1997 on the books and trespassing is ruled as a Class B misdemeanor. If the intruder has a firearm in possession, then it is a Class A misdemeanor, per a report by the Texas Trophy Hunters Association. The Texas law states that a no-trespassing notice “can be in the form of readily visible purple paint marks of proper size and placement on trees or posts spaced no more than 100 feet apart on forest land or 1,000 feet apart on non-forest land.” The states of Missouri and Kansas also follow this law, per criminal defense attorney David M. Lurie.
The three statutes of trespassing in Missouri are first-degree trespass, second-degree trespass, and posting of property against trespassers. It applies to offenders knowingly and unlawfully while also refusing to leave after being told to. Disregarding the indication set by purple fences or paint marks as per the law and entering fenced properties also makes a person liable to be fined for trespassing. A fine of up to $200 can be imposed in the case of second-degree trespass, according to FindLaw.
Similar to purple fence laws, even mailboxes with a dryer sheet indicate an issue that can be easily understood without being verbally informed. Reports of dryer sheets popping up inside the mailboxes of many households have surfaced recently. Upon investigating the strange occurrence, it was found that mail carriers do this to signal that the mailbox is affected by bees and wasps, potentially dangerous to the mailmen.