State Senate balks at bill on trespassing

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A bill to allow landowners to use purple paint on fence posts or trees instead of "no trespassing" signs fails to pass the state Senate Monday.<br/><br/>The vote was 22 to 20 for

Monday, May 16th 2005, 6:24 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A bill to allow landowners to use purple paint on fence posts or trees instead of "no trespassing" signs fails to pass the state Senate Monday.

The vote was 22 to 20 for the measure, but it takes 25 votes to pass a bill in the 48-member state Senate.

Senator Frank Shurden of Henryetta says farmers and ranchers in his district think the idea is ridiculous.

Shurden says the only people who will benefit from the bill are those who sell purple paint.

Senator Patrick Anderson of Enid kept the bill alive on a parliamentary move for a possible vote later in the session.

The bill had passed the state House with little opposition.

Proponents say the current practice of posting no trespassing signs is ineffective because the signs often are torn down.

The measure is opposed by the Oklahoma Rifle Association.