CHAPTER 144

An Act concerning signs on Department of Transportation property and supplementing Chapters 5 and 7 of Title 27 of the Revised Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

C.27:7-21.12 Motor service signs, tourist-oriented directional sign; lease, rental of right-of-way.

    1. a. The Commissioner of Transportation may lease, license or contract the use, management or operation of any State right-of-way or any real property of the department for the purpose of placing motorist service signs and tourist-oriented directional signs in such manner as to produce revenue for the support of the State.

    b. In entering into a lease, license or contract pursuant to this section, the commissioner shall either set a fee for the lease, license or contract which shall yield at least a fair rental value for the use of the right-of-way or real property, or award the lease, license or contract on the basis of competitive public bids or proposals to the responsible bidder or proposer whose bid or proposal is determined to be in the best interest of the State, price and other factors considered.

    c. Any sign placed on departmental property pursuant to a lease, license or contract entered into pursuant to this section shall conform to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices issued by the Federal Highway Administration, United States Department of Transportation.

C.27:5-9.1 Billboard, outdoor advertising sign, subject to local regulation.

    2. Any billboard or outdoor advertising sign licensed and permitted pursuant to the "Roadside Sign Control and Outdoor Advertising Act," P.L.1991, c.413 (C.27:5-5 et seq.), and proposed to be erected on or above any State right-of-way or any real property of the department shall be subject to local government zoning ordinances, applicable local government building permit requirements, and in the pinelands area, shall be subject to the provisions of the comprehensive management plan prepared and adopted by the Pinelands Commission pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1979, c.111 (C.13:18A-8).

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.

    Approved June 27, 1997.