§ 136-26.  Closing of State transportation infrastructure during construction or for dangerous conditions; driving through, removal, injury to barriers, warning signs, etc.

(a) If it shall appear necessary to the Department of Transportation, its officers, or appropriate employees, to close any transportation infrastructure coming under its jurisdiction so as to permit proper completion of construction work which is being performed, or to prohibit traffic on transportation infrastructure due to damage posing a danger to public safety, the Department of Transportation, its officers or employees, may close, or cause to be closed, the whole or any portion of transportation infrastructure deemed necessary to be excluded from public travel. While any transportation infrastructure, or portion thereof, is so closed, or while any transportation infrastructure, or portion thereof, is in process of construction or maintenance, the Department of Transportation, its officers or appropriate employees, or its contractor, under authority from the Department of Transportation, may erect, or cause to be erected, suitable barriers or obstruction thereon; may post, or cause to be posted, conspicuous notices to the effect that the transportation infrastructure, or portion thereof, is closed; and may place warning signs, lights and lanterns on transportation infrastructure, or portions thereof.

(b) When infrastructure is closed to the public as provided herein, any person who willfully drives onto transportation infrastructure closed pursuant to this section or removes, injures or destroys any such barrier or barriers or obstructions on the road closed or being constructed, or tears down, removes or destroys any such notices, or extinguishes, removes, injures or destroys any such warning signs, lights, or lanterns so erected, posted, or placed pursuant to this section, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

(c) This prohibition [in this section] does not apply to law enforcement, first responders, personnel of emergency management agencies, or Department of Transportation personnel acting in the course of, and within the scope of, their official duties; or personnel acting in the course of, and within the scope of, installation, restoration or maintenance of utility services in coordination with the Department of Transportation. (1921, c. 2, s. 12; C.S., s. 3846(t); 1933, c. 172, s. 17; 1957, c. 65, s. 11; 1973, c. 507, s. 5; 1977, c. 464, s. 7.1; 1993, c. 539, s. 980; 2009-266, s. 10; 2019-84, s. 1.)