If You See Purple Painted On An Illinois Fence Post, Turn Around

Apparently there has been a law in effect in Illinois since 2011 that gives rights to property owners who want to protect their land from trespassers. It's called the "Purple Paint Law", and I had no clue about its existence until I saw a post in the Rockford Neighborhood Issues Facebook group last week about it.

If you're an avid hiker, mushroom hunter, hunter or outdoors person, you need to know about the Purple Paint Law and what it means.According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website, the Purple Paint Law "allows Illinois landowners or lessees the option of using purple paint markings on trees or posts on their property as "no trespassing" notice."

The law states that any purple markings used as a "no trespassing" notice must be one of these two things:

 A vertical line of at least 8 inches in length.  The bottom of the mark shall be between 3 feet and 5 feet high.  Each mark shall be no more than 100 feet from another such mark and be readily visible to any person approaching the property.

Or

A post capped or otherwise marked on at least its top 2 inches.  The bottom of the cap or mark shall be between 3 feet and 5 feet 6 inches high.  Posts so marked shall be no more than 36 feet apart and be readily visible to any person approaching the property.  Prior to applying a cap or mark that is visible from both sides of a fence shared by different property owners or lessees, all such owners or lessees must agree to the decision to post their own property.

If you're wondering "why purple?" . One reason is because even color blind people can generally see purple, and because purple stands out as an "odd" color among the trees and brush of the forest.

For more information on the Purple Paint Law, go here. 

Catch Lil Zim on ‘Q98.5 Mornings with Lil Zim & JB’ on Q98.5 from 5:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook