(a) General rule.--No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic-control device or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic-control device.

(b) Commercial advertising on signs or signals.--No person shall place or maintain nor shall any public authority permit upon any highway any official traffic-control device containing any commercial advertising except for business signs included as a part of official motorist service panels or roadside area information panels approved by the department.

(c) Removal as public nuisance.--Every prohibited sign, signal or marking is declared to be a public nuisance and the authority having jurisdiction over the highway may remove the same or cause it to be removed immediately at the reasonable expense of the person placing, maintaining or displaying the sign, signal or marking.

(d) Tourist-oriented directional signs.--The department on State-designated highways, including intersections with local highways, may erect and maintain or provide for the erection and maintenance of tourist-oriented directional signs. The administration of the department's program for the erection and maintenance of tourist-oriented directional signs shall be pursuant to a policy consistent with Federal Highway Administration Tourist-Oriented Directional Sign guidelines.