I like being alive and out of jail and I suspect you do, too. As such, it may behoove you to learn the mysterious meaning behind those purple fence posts you might have seen here in the great state of Texas.
You know, so that you can avoid getting shot by over-zealous landowners or jailed by local law enforcement.
Table of Contents
Criminal Trespassing in Texas
Texas has many quirks – the land, the people, the culture…and since 1997, the legal meaning of color purple. In Texas, the color purple – if painted in a very specific way – means “no trespassing” just the same as a no trespassing sign.
I had no idea, and I bet you didn’t either.
Trespassing is a criminal offense in this country (er, state) under penal code 30.05. Under this code, if a person enters or remains on the property of another without effective consent, and the person had notice that they were not allowed to be on said property, they commit criminal trespassing.
The Power of Purple
This is where purple paint comes into play. The landowner must give “notice” of this no trespassing rule to any innocent ramblers, hikers, or hunters who might accidentally stray into their land. Normally (and in any other state), they would do this by posting No Trespassing signs along any likely entry points.
But here in Texas, they have another option: the power of purple. By law, landowners may paint purple “blazes” on items such as fence posts, trees, or even rock formations to notify folks of prohibited entry.
- Vertical lines at least 8 inches long and at least 1 inch wide
- They must be placed so that the bottom of the mark is at least 3 feet but no more than 5 feet from the ground (easy for shorties to see)
- Placed at locations that are clearly visible to any person approaching the property and no more than:
- 100 feet apart on forest land
- 1,000 feet apart on land other than forest land
Purple Paint, Criminal Trespassing, and You
Assuming the landowner follows these rules, blazes of purple paint, as painstakingly defined above, legally means “no trespassing” (motherfuckers) in Texas.
So what that means for you, dear hiker, is that if you see purple painted items you should stay far away or else you may suffer the consequences.
In Texas, “the consequences” typically means a class B misdemeanor, which comes with the hefty price tag of a $2,000 fine and/or 180 days in jail. But also, it’s Texas.
So a landowner having a bad day might just as soon shoot at you as call the cops.
I’m only half joking.
Too Long: Didn’t Read;
If you see purple vertical lines while out hiking, be sure not to enter that area because in Texas, those markings legally mean “stay off my land”. Trespass violations can land you $2,000 poorer and/or spending 180 days in the slammer, if not worse.
As for me, I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for purple and steering far clear.
References
https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/land/habitats/faq/law_enforcement/trespass1.phtml