CHAPTER 144
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 115
AS AMENDED BY
HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1 AS AMENDED BY HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 17 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REGULATION OF OUTDOOR ADVERTISING.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE :
Section 1. Amend §1110(b)(3), Title 17 of the Delaware Code by striking paragraph (3) in its entirety and by substituting in lieu thereof the following:
“(3) Lighting – Signs may be illuminated, subject to the following restrictions.
a. Signs which contain, include, or are illuminated by any flashing, intermittent, or moving light or lights are prohibited, except those giving public service information such as time, date, temperature, weather, or traffic conditions, or as defined in subparagraph e. of this paragraph.
b. Signs which are not effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled ways of an Interstate or federal-aid primary highway and which are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of a driver of a motor vehicle or which otherwise obscure or interfere with a driver's operation of a motor vehicle are prohibited.
c. A sign may not be illuminated so that it interferes with the effectiveness of, or obscures, an official traffic control device such as a sign or signal.
d. All lighting is subject to any other provisions of law relating to the lighting of signs presently applicable to all highways under the jurisdiction of the State.
e. Nothwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs a. through d. of this paragraph, signs commonly known as variable message signs may be changed at intervals by electronic or mechanical process or remote control, and are permitted within 660 feet of the edge of the right-of-way of any Interstate or federal-aid primary highway so designated as of June 1, 1991, and of the National Highway System. These variable message signs are permitted, except as prohibited by local ordinance or zoning regulation or by the Delaware federal-state outdoor advertising agreement of May 1, 1968, and are not considered to be in violation of flashing, intermittent, or moving lights criteria provided that:
1. Each message remains fixed for a minimum of at least 10 seconds.
2. When the message is changed, it must be accomplished in 1 second or less, with all moving parts or illumination changing simultaneously and in unison.
3. A variable message sign along the same roadway and facing in the same direction of travel may not be placed, as measured along the centerline of the roadway, within 2,500 feet of another variable message sign, or within 500 feet of a static billboard sign regulated by this section, or within 1,000 feet of an interchange, interstate junction of merging or diverging traffic, or an at-grade intersection.
4. A variable message sign must contain a default design that will freeze the sign in 1 position if a malfunction occurs or, in the alternative, that will shut down.
5. A variable message sign may not contain or display any lights, effects, or messages that flash, move, appear to be animated or to move, scroll, or change in intensity during the fixed display period. A variable message sign must appropriately adjust display brightness as ambient light levels change.
6. A sign that attempts or appears to attempt to direct the movement of traffic or which contains wording, color, shapes, or likenesses of official traffic control devices is prohibited.
7. A sign may not be placed along designated scenic or historic byways.”.
Section 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of 17 Del. C. §1110(b)(3), the provisions of paragraph (3)(Lighting) may not violate the provisions of the May 1, 1968 Delaware federal-state outdoor advertising agreement.".