If You See Purple Paint on Trees in WA, OR, CA, Leave Immediately
This may be something you're not familiar with nor have you seen this anywhere around here, but if you happen to be walking by and see a tree with purple spray paint on it, it's best you find another way through to where ever you were going.
Like, immediately.
What Does Purple Paint on a Tree or Fence mean?
Not just trees but fences and anything else that could be propped up like a gate or posts or polls -- anything, really.
Reason is purple paint is just as good as posting a No Trespassing or Private Property sign.
It's one and the same.
Now, as of typing this article, Washington State, Oregon and California are not considered 'Purple Paint' states. That is to say that if you see someone in Washington paint purple on their tree, it's not quite legally binding as the other 22 states where it is recognized by law including our friends in Idaho, Montana and other states like Texas, North Carolina, and Alabama among others.
However more and more are using it for more of a universal symbol marking it as a private property so I wouldn't take any chances. If you're taking a shortcut and see this, it's best to respect it and find another way around. Better do that than have something bad happen to you.