State regulators issued new rules governing roadside memorials Tuesday.
The Arizona Department of Transportation established policy to minimize risk for motorists.
“We have heard the concerns shared with us and developed this way for families to honor loved ones, and we’ve done it in a way that promotes safety,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said in a statement. “Those who have already placed memorials can work with us to keep tributes that meet these requirements and to replace those that don’t.”
The rules include:
* Memorials can be as tall as 30 inches and as wide as 18 inches, made with materials that are as much as two inches thick and four inches wide. Included plaques can be four inches by four inches and 1/16 of an inch thick. The memorial can be anchored up to 12 inches deep in the ground, but not in concrete or metal footings.
* Memorials must be placed as close as possible to the outer edge of the highway right. They can't be placed in front of developed property without written permission from the owner.
* Current memorials may remain in place if they meet the current standards. Those who erected them must register as contacts with ADOT.
* Memorials that are not approved by ADOT and don't meet policy requirements will be given 60-day removal notices. After that, ADOT will remove them and leave a notice about where to pick up the memorials.
For more information, visit azdot.gov/memorials.
