If you see purple paint, stop walking. What your state's paint law means.

[rto]

If you spot purple paint on your early morning hike, it may be best to turn around and find another route, because you might be trespassing.

Many U.S. states abide by the "purple paint law," which allows land and property owners to use purple paint marks on trees and fences to deter people from trespassing. Using the paint is akin to posting a "No Trespassing" sign, although not everyone knows what it means.

So far, more than 20 states have a "purple paint law" in place, the Hudson Valley Post reported. Officials chose the color purple because it stands out in a natural setting, is not used in the forestry industry and is a hue people who are colorblind can identify, the outlet said.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/see-purple-paint-stop-walking-225735940.html

[Full Otto]

I've had to use it on a corner of my woods.
Someone cut down a white oak near the property line
Had a sheriff's deputy out and he suggested it.
Not there and they can claim ignorance if they came back to split it
I booby trapped the log with heavy gauge wire on the underside out of sight
It's still there along with the purple paint

[Johnny]

Purple paint isn't a thing in Michigan. It's not a bad idea though. It would make marking property boundaries super simple and cheap.

I own a couple large acreage properties. My main residence is on 68 acres and my cabin property has 20. I use simple "No Trespassing" or "Keep Out" signs along the boundaries. The 68 acre place is mostly fenced in, so that helps define the property lines.

The only place I use signs is where my properties border roads or public property. For neighbors.... I've removed all the signs. It's just not necessary and sends the wrong message. One neighbor's house is very close to my fence line. When repairing the fence, I asked him if he'd prefer I NOT attach wire to the posts for aesthetic reasons. He was so thankful. I removed all the "No Trespassing" signs facing his property as well as the fencing near his house. In the years since, we've become good friends.

[Pogo]

That law was recently passed in Indiana.

[Sanders]

I've seen purple painted trees in woodcutting areas on Forest Service land. I figured they were either marked to leave standing or to be cut down. Either way, I left them alone and just cut the stuff that the FS sawyers cut down and stacked for us.

[Retvet]

I've seen purple painted trees in woodcutting areas on Forest Service land. I figured they were either marked to leave standing or to be cut down. Either way, I left them alone and just cut the stuff that the FS sawyers cut down and stacked for us.

Same here.

[ColonelKorn]

I have over a mile and a half of property line. I'll need more paint

[44044]

It’s the law in Missouri…

[baboon]

Texas has it, you see it on gate post everywhere in the country