New Law: Purple Paint Means No Trespassing

In Illinois, the color purple now means private.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed a new law that allows landowners to use purple markings to ward off trespassers. Crossing the marks without permission constitutes a Class B misdemeanor.

In agriculture settings, it could mean a Class A misdemeanor. Trespassers who drive a motorized vehicle into an orchard, enclosed livestock area, a barn, or a crop field would be charged with a Class A.

According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources the purple marks must be either painted lines or capped posts. The lines must be 8 inches or more. The bottom of the mark should be between 3 and 5 feet off the ground. The marks should be no more than 100 feet from each other and must be readily visible.

The alternative, the site says, is a post capped or market in purple on at least the top 2 inches. The posts should not be more than 36 feet apart.

The law was signed Aug. 22 and is effective immediately. Through Jan. 1, 2013, landowners also must issue a "no trespassing" notice verbally, written, or a posted sign.

The purple paint law, Public Act 97-0477, does not apply to property in municipalities over 2 million residents, the site stated.