19A NCAC 02D .1005      RESPONSIBILITIES OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND DEPARTMENT

(a)  Any individual or group participating in the Adopt‑A‑Highway Program shall be subject to the following requirements and responsibilities:

(1)           Appointing or selecting an authorized representative to act on behalf of the group;

(2)           Ensuring that each person participating in the program attend a safety meeting and sign a statement acknowledging that they have attended the safety meeting and viewed the Department's safety video before participating in the cleanup of the adopted section;

(3)           Obeying and abiding by the rules adopted by the Department;

(4)           Picking up litter a minimum of four times a year, and as often as necessary to maintain a clean right‑of‑way;

(5)           Ensuring that each individual participant of the group wears a Department approved safety vest or shirt during the pickup;

(6)           Ensuring that each individual participant of the group wear clothing that will not impair vision or movement during the pickup;

(7)           Ensuring that attire that might divert the attention of motorists is not worn during clean up activities;

(8)           Furnishing adequate supervision by one or more adults 21 years of age or older for groups which have participants 12 ‑ 17 years of age;

(9)           Ensuring that no one under the age of 12 is allowed to participate in the clean up activities;

(10)         Prohibiting participants from either possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages or other drugs during clean up activities;

(11)         Ensuring that no signs, posters, or other display material that might distract motorists are brought to the adopted section by group members during or between clean ups;

(12)         Filing after actions reports as prescribed by the Department; and

(13)         Ensuring that all provisions of the agreement are fully performed.

(b)  The Department's participation in the Program will include the following:

(1)           Working with the group to determine the specific section of state right‑of‑way to be adopted;

(2)           Providing safety vests, trash bags and safety information;

(3)           Erecting two signs, one at each end of the adopted section, with the group's name or acronym displayed.  The size, shape and graphic design of the sign shall be in accordance with the Adopt‑A‑Highway sign policy as approved by the Secretary of Transportation.  In the case of theft, vandalism or destruction of a highway sign, the Department shall provide one free replacement of the sign.  Thereafter, any replacement sign shall be paid for by the Program Participant;

(4)           Removing filled trash bags;

(5)           Removing litter from the adopted section under unusual circumstances, i.e., removing large, heavy or hazardous items;

(6)           Monitoring to ensure the objectives of litter abatement are being met; and

(7)           Monitoring to evaluate the overall operation of the Program and to gauge its effectiveness.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143B-350;

Eff. November 1, 1991;

Amended Eff. November 1, 1993;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. September 6, 2016.