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<section article="gtr" article_name="Transportation" number="8-208" title_number="8" title_name="Highways" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="State Highway Administration">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Erect” has the meaning stated in § 8–701 of this title.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Outdoor sign” has the meaning stated in § 8–701 of this title.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Private entity” includes an individual, a corporation, a general or limited partnership, a limited liability company, a joint venture, a business trust, a public benefit corporation, a nonprofit entity, or any other business entity.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Administration may sell or lease to a private entity the naming rights for rest areas or welcome centers within State highway rights–of–way.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Administration may not sell or lease to a private entity the naming rights for rest areas or welcome centers within State highway rights–of–way unless the Administration determines that the proposed use of the naming rights and signage associated with the proposed use of the naming rights is in compliance with federal regulations governing the distribution of federal highway funds to the State.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The term of a contract that the Administration enters into under this subsection shall be at least 1 year.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A sale or lease of naming rights under this section is solely for sponsorship purposes and may not be construed to require that any official State highway sign or mailing address be altered.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A private entity that purchases or leases naming rights for a rest area or welcome center within a State highway right–of–way under this section may erect outdoor signs along the highway for the purpose of sponsoring the designation.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>All costs associated with outdoor signs erected under this subsection shall be paid by the private entity that purchases or leases the naming rights for the rest area or welcome center, including the costs of construction, installation, operation, maintenance, and removal of the signs.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Outdoor signs under this subsection:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>May not be erected without prior approval by:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The Administration; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The Federal Highway Administration if necessary to secure federal highway funds;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>May not detract from the safety of the traveling public, as determined by the Administration;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Shall conform to all design and placement guidelines for acknowledgment signs provided in the federal Manual on Uniform Control Devices for Streets and Highways;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>May not include a name or logo that in the judgment of the Administration:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Is profane, obscene, or vulgar;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Is sexually explicit or graphic;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Relates to excretory functions;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>Is descriptive of the genitals or other intimate parts of a body;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>Relates to or describes illegal activities or substances;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>Condones or encourages violence;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="7">
          <text>Is socially, racially, or ethnically offensive or disparaging; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="8">
          <text>Is not in the public interest of the State; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Are subject to the requirements of Subtitle 7 of this title and any other law governing outdoor signs.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Proceeds from the sale or lease of naming rights under this section shall be credited to the Transportation Trust Fund.</text>
  </level>
</section>
