If You Spot A House With A Purple Fence, This Is What You Must Do

The next time you spot a purple fence, you should be incredibly wary – especially if you’re in the South. Seriously, seeing one could be a warning that you're entering dangerous territory. And – not to scare you too much – it doesn’t even have to be an entire fence. It could just be a purple marking on a tree. So listen up: the next time you notice any kind of purple marking, here is exactly what you have to do.

Why purple?

If you are unaware of what the purple paint signifies, though, you’re not alone. Rudy Fernandez – known as the “One-Armed Outdoorsman” – actually touched upon this fact in a video for Texas radio station KEAN-FM. In fact, Fernandez talks at length about the Purple Paint Law and its significance in the South.

Raising awareness

After diving into the history of the Purple Paint Law, Fernandez then shows us one of his encounters with purple-marked areas in Texas. Standing next to a purple fence post, the host says, “Sure enough, I’ve been out with a couple of my friends here recently.” And that’s why he decided to raise awareness of the purple-painted posts.

More than a color preference

“[My friends] said, ‘Man, what’s up with all these purple posts? People love the color purple!’” Fernandez continues. And while that may be true, it’s certainly not the reason why people have started marking their fences with purple. So what is the purpose of the Purple Paint Law? Well, that’s exactly what Fernandez’s friends asked him.

Abide by the Purple Paint Law

Fernandez explained what the deal was and then gave his friends – and everybody watching – some sage advice. “Abide by it,” he said. “It’ll keep you alive in the Lone Star State, and it will certainly keep you out of trouble!” With that, the short clip comes to a close. It’s not the most heartening close to a video, is it?

Most people don't know

Still, this video was subsequently uploaded to KEAN-FM’s official YouTube channel and since then it’s earned over 66,000 views. The clip has generated many comments, too, with YouTube users sharing their responses to the unusual color-based law. So it seems that not many people are familiar with the meaning of the purple paint.

Regionally specific

One commenter wrote, “I saw this a lot in North Carolina also. Never saw it before then, as I grew up in Wisconsin. No one knew what it was for in my group, but no one in the group was any kind of outdoorsman, either! Good to know moving forward.” They weren’t the only ones to be glad to know this new information, either.

Stretches to Missouri

Ignorance of this particular law isn’t just restricted to Texas; Missouri has faced this problem before as well. David Carlisle from the Missouri Department of Conservation has explained that some people there didn’t know about the purple fences, either.

It makes sense

But Carlisle still believed that the Purple Paint Law was a success for the most part. Speaking to KNPN in 2014, he said, “It’s a really good law. We don’t often see one that everybody can look at and kinda go, ‘You know what? That makes sense.’ And the purple paint is something that’s kind of universal. It’s taking on across the nation.” He’s not wrong about that, either – so people will do well to know what it means.

Purple warning

If you frequent the great outdoors regularly, however, you may be used to seeing random stuff and taking evasive action. Some may even say that this is part of what makes those treks so satisfying. After all, you never know what may be around the corner. And if it happens to be dangerous, well, that just makes for a better story after the fact. But in the case of the purple paint, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Used as a marker

And you may have already seen the odd splash of color on certain landmarks. If those marks are on trees, though, they could hold a variety of different meanings. An orange stripe or two, for example, typically signals that the tree will be cut down. You should take particular note, however, if you stumble across a fence featuring a dash of purple.

Meant to attract attention

Yes, more and more people are marking their fence posts and trees with vertical purple lines. But this hasn’t been done for decorative purposes, nor is the color a stylistic choice to brighten things up. This particular marker has been put in place to warn those who see it to be very careful indeed.

Rural settings

It’s particularly important to make sure people understand this kind of warning, too. After all, people love the idea of going traveling and experiencing another culture firsthand. And while soaking in the sights in a city may be an obvious choice for a trip, making your way to a more rural setting could be just the ticket. But – in this instance, at least – this is where the problem arises.

A sign for outsiders

You see, many states in America continue to pull in tourists from far and wide. Thanks to its temperate climate and many attractions, California is typically a big draw for sightseers. Florida and New York each pull in a good deal of people, too. But all those visitors may well notice a few unusual – and colorful – signs during their journeys.

Wraps the perimeter

As previously mentioned, an orange spot on a tree signifies that the specimen in question is due to be chopped down. A yellow marker, by contrast, serves as a warning to passers-by. It means that particular tree will bear a pungent fruit called ginkgo. Items can be painted purple, meanwhile, to illustrate the perimeter of a property – so if you cross the line, you’ll be trespassing.

Color codes

Sidewalks can also possess random dashes of color. If these are pink or orange, for instance, this indicates a new tree will be planted in that very area. Plus, as some may already know, the U.S. has a certain color code for its various utility lines.

Red stripe

Should you stumble upon a red stripe on the ground, for example, this means an electric power line is just below the surface. A green marker, on the other hand, highlights the location of a sewer or drain, while a splash of blue indicates a water pipe nearby. That’s not all, though, as a variety of other colors – including purple – need to be taken into account.

White lines

You see, white markers may be found on the street – although these shouldn’t be confused with the standard white lines that often lie in the middle of the road. In this case, the streaks trace potential evacuation routes if an emergency should arise.

Double yellow

Then there may be colorful marks on the road – and these are ones that drivers in the U.S. need to know to travel safely. Perhaps the most famous example, of course, is the double yellow line, which serves a highly important purpose.

Traffic rules

Most vitally, the double yellow line helps separate the two lanes of traffic on the road. And as those who often travel by car in the U.S. know, a driver must watch out for such a marking if they feel the need to overtake one of the vehicles in front of them. If you power over the line when trying to get around another car, after all, you’ll be breaking the law.

Surprising color

But drivers in New Jersey had to contend with the emergence of yet another new sign in 2016. Yes, in the fall of that year, residents of Mahwah noticed something different on the road. It seemed that the famous double yellow line had been given a strange makeover.

Blue line

In particular, a new blue line had been painted between the two yellow ones – and this may have baffled plenty. You see, with a new color in play, locals didn’t know if the standard rules still applied. For starters, blue markings on the road are more typically used for the benefit of disabled motorists.

Colorful stripes

And the confusion in New Jersey only continued to grow as two more colors were subsequently introduced. In the town of Dumont, a red marking was added to the center of a road. Then, further down the street, a green stripe was seen filling in the gap between the double yellow lines.

Paying homage

At that point, motorists across the state may well have been desperate for some answers. Yet, as it turned out, these additional colors didn’t indicate any changes to the rules of the road. Instead, they had been painted to honor many very special people in the community.

Tribute to law enforcement

Specifically, a female resident of Mahwah had wanted a tribute to be paid to local law enforcement. And ultimately her wish was granted with that blue line, which had been applied to the road on which the town’s police department is based.

Others followed suit

After that, several other communities in New Jersey looked to follow suit. And when the new markings turned up in Mantua, the community police responded with a heartfelt statement on their Facebook page. The message explained, “The blue line is a symbolic reference to law enforcement.”

Serves as a reminder

The statement continued, “[The line] describes the concept that the police are what stand between the victimizers and would-be victims. Our hope is that it serves as a reminder that we are here to help, and [we] will do what we can to intervene to keep you and your loved ones safe.”

Other color meanings

The blue line craze ultimately inspired officials to honor some of the other sectors of the emergency services. Yes, that previously mentioned red line was added to the road for the local fire department. The green one was put in place to champion the efforts of paramedics.

Orange markers

But while those dashes of color ultimately had positive connotations, that’s not always the case – as we know the purple markings are serious business. But if you happen to visit Arizona, Idaho or Montana, you may also catch sight of some orange markers. And at that stage, you should probably watch your step, as this vibrant hue could serve as a warning.

Another warning

Why? Well, it’s been reported that landowners in those states may use orange paint as a way to mark their territory. You’ll be trespassing on private property, then, if you go past the item with the paint on. And while, to some, that may seem like a rather unusual way to protect land, the concept is far from a new one.

Certified by law

Back in 1987, the state of Arkansas passed what was at the time an unusual law. Alongside the installation of more traditional signs, homeowners were permitted to paint objects on their land a certain color as a means of warning passers-by. That way, someone would know if they’d strayed on to private property by mistake.

Protecting property owners

Nine more states subsequently followed Arkansas’ lead, with Florida, Missouri, Kansas and North Carolina legally protecting homeowners through the paint method. And in 1997 yet another major state adopted the statute, as we’re about to discover.

Texas and purple

Yes, Texas embraced the law that year. Unlike Arizona, Idaho and Montana, however, purple was the color of choice in the Lone Star State, just as it was in Arkansas and the other locations. So, why exactly did the Texas authorities settle on that particular hue?

Difficult to ignore

Well, Ashley Pellerin, who works at Prairie View A&M University, offered up a potential explanation as well as addressing an additional issue. Around 12 months after the law was passed in Texas, you see, homeowners found that trespassers weren’t getting the message. They were ignoring both the signs to stay away and the purple stripes.

No trespassing

Ultimately, then, an adjustment was made to the Purple Paint Law. Specifically, landowners were no longer required to hang up a “No Trespassing” sign; the paint by itself was good enough. “[The paint] holds the same weight, and the same law violations apply,” Pellerin told Inquisitr in 2016. “It’s no trespassing, period.”

Most can see it

Pellerin also speculated as to why purple was the color of choice in this instance. “A lot of people who are colorblind... can actually see the color purple,” she explained. “So I believe that’s why it was chosen.” That said, if a Texas resident wanted to be covered by this unique law, they had to follow some specific instructions.

How to do it correctly

Data-gatherers the Central Texas Geocachers have neatly outlined what needs to be done to comply with the Purple Paint Law. The group revealed, “[The paint marking] must be vertical, at least eight inches long [and] at least one inch wide. [The] bottom of the mark should be between three to five feet above the ground.”

The rules

The Geocachers further explained, “[Purple paint] markings can be no more than 100 feet apart in timberland. Markings can be no more than 1,000 feet apart on open land, [and] they must be in a place visible by those approaching the property.”

Signal to hunters

But the purple stripes in Texas don’t just serve as a deterrent to normal trespassers. The markings also act as a way of warning off local hunters from stepping onto the property, which in turn protects the homeowner from any possible gunfire. But despite all of the regulations that have been put in place, one major issue remains.

Purple means stop

You see, regardless of the unique warning signs, some individuals continue to trespass on private property. Brad Clark – a game warden in the Lone Star State – told Inquisitr, “People hunting or fishing without the landowner’s consent is a common issue. Often they ignore posted signs and purple paint.”