Section 670 Of Article 2. Permit Provisions From California Streets And Highways Code >> Division 1. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 2.
670
. (a) The department may issue written permits, as provided in
this chapter, authorizing the permittee to do any of the following
acts:
(1) Make an opening or excavation for any purpose in any state
highway.
(2) Place, change, or renew an encroachment.
(3) Place or display in, under, or over any state highway any
advertising sign or device. Any advertising sign or device placed or
displayed in violation of this section is a public nuisance and the
department may immediately remove it. This section does not prohibit
the posting of any notice in the manner required by law or by the
order of any court.
(4) Plant, remove, cut, cut down, injure, or destroy any tree,
shrub, plant, or flower growing within any state highway. However,
the department shall not issue a permit for, or take any other action
to accomplish, the destruction, removal, or topping of any tree,
unless the tree is dead or diseased, for the purpose of improving or
enhancing the view from the highway of an advertising sign or device
or any commercial activity, unless, for any project whose cost is
more than five hundred dollars ($500), the permittee has obtained
consent from the city or county in which the tree is located. Nothing
in this paragraph limits the department's authority to modify or
deny any permittee's request. If the city or county does not respond
within 30 days to a request for a permit pursuant to this paragraph,
the city or county is deemed to have given consent to the project.
(5) Install or remove tire chains upon motor vehicles for
compensation on any state highway at locations designated in the
permit, upon any terms and conditions relating to the safe and
orderly movement of traffic that the department finds necessary. The
department may issue sufficient permits for the installation or
removal of tire chains that it finds necessary or desirable to
accommodate the demand for those services consistent with the maximum
convenience and safety to traffic. The department, in issuing any
permit for the installation or removal of tire chains, shall assume
no responsibility for the competence or reliability of the permittee
in performing those services.
(b) Any person who does any act specified in this section without
a permit is guilty of a misdemeanor.