§ 136-33.  Damaging or removing signs; rewards.

(a) No person shall willfully deface, damage, knock down or remove any sign posted as provided in G.S. 136-26 or G.S. 136-30.

(b) No person, without just cause or excuse, shall have in his possession any highway sign as provided in G.S. 136-26 or G.S. 136-30.

(b1) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

(c) The Department of Transportation is authorized to offer a reward not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons who violate the provisions of this section, such reward to be paid from funds of the Department of Transportation.

(d) The enforcement of this section shall be the specific responsibility and duty of the State Highway Patrol in addition to all other law-enforcement agencies and officers within this State. (1927, c. 148, s. 57; 1971, c. 671; 1973, c. 507, s. 5; 1975, cc. 11, 93, c. 716, s. 7; 1977, c. 464, ss. 7.1, 18; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1030, s. 41; 1993, c. 539, s. 984; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)