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Highways Act 1980
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Highways Act 1980, Section 131 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 01 March 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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131 Penalty for damaging highway etc.E+W
(1)If a person, without lawful authority or excuse—
(a)makes a ditch or excavation in a highway which consists of or comprises a carriageway, or
(b)removes any soil or turf from any part of a highway, except for the purpose of improving the highway and with the consent of the highway authority for the highway, or
(c)deposits anything whatsoever on a highway so as to damage the highway, or
(d)lights any fire, or discharges any firearm or firework, within 50 feet from the centre of a highway which consists of or comprises a carriageway, and in consequence thereof the highway is damaged,
he is guilty of an offence.
(2)If a person without lawful authority or excuse pulls down or obliterates a traffic sign placed on or over a highway, or a milestone or direction post (not being a traffic sign) so placed, he is guilty of an offence; but it is a defence in any proceedings under this subsection to show that the traffic sign, milestone or post was not lawfully so placed.
(3)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable to a fine not exceeding [F1level 3 on the standard scale].
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