Forget the red flag, if you see the color purple on the tree, your life may be in danger... and the reason is
Arabia Weather - In about twenty American states, the purple color on trees or any other fixed object in the wilderness indicates private property. Depending on the location, the landowners may be armed and your life may be at risk due to your presence in these areas, but what is the secret behind the color purple?
What is the secret behind the color purple?
In many states, purple signs are used as a cost-effective alternative to traditional signs, with states such as Florida, Texas, Alabama, and South Carolina choosing this universal color. Proponents claim that these signs are environmentally friendly, do not create unwanted ugliness, and are an economical way to identify land ownership without... The need for expensive signs that can be vandalized.
Laws in states that adopt purple paint specify the size and spacing of the signs, which are about 8 inches long, one to two inches wide, and hung three to five feet off the ground, according to the Daily Mail.
Concern about people understanding what the purple marks mean
However, critics raise concerns about people understanding what the purple signs mean, compared to clear signs that can be easily read. “The advantage of the signs is that anyone walking next to the border can easily read that there is a private land border,” Andy Musi, the Catskill Center’s stewardship and advocacy coordinator, told the Times Union in 2021. He added that purple paint may not be enough for effective communication, especially if states and organizations don't make these signs clear to visitors.
Maria Beddo-Calhoun, president of the Catskill 3500 Club, explained that purple paint may cause more problems in states like New York, where such markings are not considered clear, legal ways of demarcating property lines, which could contribute to overriding existing laws and regulations.
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