Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion

j OFFICE OF THE AITORNEY OENERAL OF TEXAS AUSTIN Bonorablrx. Il.’Bauknlght Aoting OOuI&l Attorney Tratlr abturty Austin, Tenr Dear Blrt wote fro8 yam re- he mqu+fltr4 your domrtaent loui qaedlmr: Dokthe bommbsionorr~ Court %!~na, ham authox-ltrto h. upon firat elamo, reoond l o r a ny o r r ll r uehr o a d!In county aa either l iirrt, roaond or third olnrr road but 18 l road thd 10 b@lDg 8dnWaed bg :~oa~ount~ end umd by ‘the publio br prerorlp Dou the u8er of 8 loa4 809. ption give to that mad the tioation or Uplty of l roa&;t vnelored iumlth nap rill r la d l brie on thb la thb owu thus tu oovue4. rtrtttter Boweror, f oonnot rind rhero thlr quortlon lb orttle @a~rda hrr been direotly parred upoa. Thir ratter is nbw pondiry befoon the’Ooadr- rlonur* Gourt or Travl~ aount~ and beron aoting upon’tho utkr further g& Oomm$#ioa- ora* Court ir walti four nquestad oplnio~.~ Artiole 6701,Yemon*r Annotatd To~~‘Olril Stat- utor, read8 lIIfollowst ‘Th ae ttmlk iuio Qonb urnl th u lo la u~~y all pub110 roada in their oouutier am rollomqr ml..lirrt olarr road& rhall bo olou 01 02, Beoond alar0 roadn rhll oonfornto the nqtirmmantr or tire2 olaoo roads lsoe t g z ;$ 0 . “3. T rd olaro mdr rhall not be lo~r than twenw “z 30) ioet iiQe utd tho o8amw not Ihorable ieat rjdq othdso the r eq tWsmea li tr ion of no tth u r uunty la thlr stat0 rootun- less tlro thou- Comalsslonon Ooart theroot lhhoriro tha eon- rtruotion of oattla guards aoroas say or all of thb rlrrt olaoa looon4 bar, or tblti eleor lvada &n l ard.bouut~ and #uob oattlo guards shall not be olaoso~o r Oo M ido r edls obstruotions on #id m&se -The commx8810fler8 hurt of lW Aunt, oomlng unda rthe pratiolonsof this Ac t shall tithin sixty (60) aars artor thla Aot taker ltfeet, provia proper plans ad spaeiffm- tb nllo f l strsdard O&t10 6~~6 to be U@d on the roads of mid oounty, 8~lti plan8 end speoi~lcatlonsto be pls1nl.ywritten, rupple- Eonted br auoh drav~ngs 88 a- bo nbOo8SUy and shall be amllablo to the lnspeotionof the oitlzxmhl~ of ruoh oounty. After s61A Cmamlselonen Oourt providor #id pro r @an8 lB 8pipitlo~tLons 0r a st8ndmd oatt r l guard to bo us06 on the road* 0r raid oountv aw perman aoaatmotlad rqt wattlo guard that tr, not in looorauleowith Ml4 ap*nved plaus an& spolfloatloaa popana by ml(L @oBmlB- sianon C)ourtshall be drosrd gulltt or ob- awtlng sala roads of saia oounty, and the poreon reoponslble for ruoh Irpfopor oonstar@- tloa of su4 eattlo guarUs shall be de-d 6Uiltt Ofli 8b4%810~0r~ Md rhul %a ‘rhO6. not leaa than Fit, Dollars 05) nor 8oro than One Eundrod Dollar8 ($100)~ -e Ils8dsr lo no Bon vror t w lofmty oomw uudor the prorlsloas of this ho) is herob lutherlw& and empowered Co emrtruot eattlo guamI on the tlrrt olars, roeond olwSS Honorable1).L, kuk&ht, ?a80 4 Ma tblrd slaro ro*ao sr o8Moountjona~w far mm out or th0 Bdad wka Bri 0 h~u et lM bounty w&en in theb, J bt thy bs- llero the raartruotlonor 9- 801 wttlo dprrd, to be te tho best laterest of the sitirus of odd 08uJltf.” A?tiOl* 67&l, fornon* linrot*trb *OXU air11 Mat- utes, reallo 80 r0mO8t *&y 2lner between dirrrrmt gclrtmaaor ornor@ of land8 any swMw line, or say notloablo routo, t&t the @ommitilaaon@ Eoust may agree upq in order Qo *void hill& mountdao orstnam through aaymnalu Lo-’ l106uro0, IW be deolared publlo hlghwa~r upon thb r0mwing 00Uditionr; 81. lb fmoholden or me or mom par- OOM llring within a~ ln~osara, n&o deslns a nearer, hotter or more pnotlmblo road to their ohuroh, bounty seat 8ll1, tlrLer, e water, may make bwom a&oat&on to the Oom- mlssl3nerr~ Court for ~1 order eutabllrhlng luoh road demlgrrrtlag the l.ins~sought to be openedani tho muneo and rboldonoer et the pu- son8 or ewnero to be lrteoted br sUh propored road, an& statlag the Not8 whloh show l noo- lwltr for suoh reab l& U n the rimgdr sua&l tho Uerk xl 1 l.ssesI ootioo r.0 substmoe thhor00r ak00ha to the w oonstahlo or tho eount~, eoBManunghi8te summonDUO&land ownon, mulag the& te ap pear at the next re@lar turn of the oom&ls- llo a wo ’ court au6 lhorrmuso e sad 1iSSS l&uld not be doolamd bllo #l,(Lhrcrys*‘ @al& notloo shall be lervod p”a thr amimer M& for thb iwth or tlse.pxvrldedfor the rsnloe 0r oitationsis oitil lotloru in juibtloe courts, and mhall bo returned in lika mnaor 88 suoh oltatlon. 9). At 8 mguar tern oftha mtut, 8fk u110somlce 0r SOah mttoo, if tho aom24lsslo~- arm* OOUZ%deeno Mid road of saf~loloat pub110 - - 336 aonorobloB.L. Ikukalght,Prgo5 importmoe ltmy imuo mordar dwluSn# the 11~8 henarted ~pplloatlror, 01 In the tho lines tired by tho 0088isslauer** eoart to be ptablie hlghmm, and ~lnot the UM 40 be opmrud by 8ad left opaa ths ounors theoor for a spa00 or firtern feet on uoh slao ot lald line bot the nwkeb tnos rob other ob- Jeoto wob to dosignato nItI ULOS, ana the p;g of ourveys ohall not bo caovo4 nor Xotloo of meh order shall be iapr- Uatsl.y*ronod upon sueh mnors ana return made thereon, 88 befon provldoib. “4. Thr aupages to euoh tuid wnors shall be as8e~8ed br a jttrl Of freeholder8 as toz other pttbllororhr,and all oosts aCI twdlag tho roooedlngs in opting mighboe hood rmas, !f the lpplio8tlon1s gruatod shall be paid by the @ouuty. '5; The 00mmisrlanen~oourtshallrtot be requ.lnA to Iwo any suoh road worked by za;Fd heads am Pn the 0680 or other publlo Be quote from 2l Texas furisprudsnss,paq,er534, 535# 536, 537, 539, 5u and 516, l* *ur n*** Statutory T~TIIM- *Pub110ELBOW - The etstuta rolatlng to oouatr roads to all pub110reads and highways raters not dltzioontimod bad eatabllshod agmtobly Co l8W. T h isha s b o r n lo no tr uea to 8o sn8 ma d lstablishd br the oomdooianers~ omrt, The expression ‘publio road* in other s%dAutel ,10 generally eonstruo~ to inolude *nSt~tUtO* a s r eU le st*tuto r y ro6doi . .. 0.. . w lI 9. Roads - ola0dri06tmh uount~ vnau statutory direction oomdsslcmerr~ oourts 0ap8irp roads ILO or the riret, reton or thM olqL m parpore of oh88ifir8ti0n is in or&or th6t ~B&&ILU& +iath may 80 p no o r iblaoordiag ed ta l’hoprmsoriboawidtha *rag not leas thy iortr nor aore than for one htrrrdnd~toet rlrst aa& meond olass roads rod uut le88 CM8 HoMrablr t. L. Daukal&t, he. 6 twanty rut ror thlrbolaoo roa(I0, ultr Yaoo- ~0 dti00n root Ln ddth r0r rir0t ti 0000u 4flafla~roadO ua tuJn rut ror thlraelaoo ‘! 1% toi&worhood %040. liol&hborhooa mia 0lm a i0tia tp a h 0 tr4 o a 0th ~ ma 0 in that th ea ymer ta b lls uahe alarpoolal r r o 00a ur o . lOlxm1~ It ma0 ulolta that thh,ill olooaro : through M&h a no -I ghborhoaa road uao lo8abll8b la 0h tia00ntai.n not 1080 than l260 o~~agd that the r0aa 0h0tia br laid out’a10 l or rootion line or ln a ah8t "4 1 ae throi&h iFLOliW0. Thorn roqulremeatohare brro lbollf&edi The ron8rquenooo of a road bolng a neighborhoodroad are that the oounty ommlc donero are not rewind to ‘waris lt by the ~mrd hand,, and that where the right of way ho been lequlrod &out eo8t to the eountf tha 1-a owner aor who00 pr0pax-t~ the ma& ran0 wreot gater when ~eoeuaa7~ ”. l . . *I l.4. statutory ana mmtatutory 80&s. Another oJ.aralfleatlonor hlghwapr polntr to their origin eo king lt0tUtory or nOnOtOtUtOrfe Prior to a nyltatutory prooobro tor the ertab- iib9nt fjr highnm, lrdiortioa rad pnrrrlp- Thu. mo 4 .0h r o sot b o ol nbali8b4 b thle tahite that ~roeorlboo l pm004un rpr tie omtabllohwnt of roa40 by oounty of~obloe . . . *l ..l l l 1 5. la fjo no r a l, A0 o lr o a a r a o t1 ud, a righ a or publid tntol o?ot lad PIJ bo low @ma without any rrrtabllmhaent or a hi&m7 bT pro#oeb&1&8Pnb.? the BtatUtO. fiO0, U aotioti honaftw, ormial ldoptlbn or lvu nsbgnltloa lo no tl8r entla on. l.aoaota~t0rl ~0 or aapulrltlonIO by bwIloatlon~ utlop may b. otort set of the onnw o&ii- 7 lon, the detlloatloa iflag hlo inton beIn6 ‘a* oeptod 07 ppbllo aoo* Aleo, without a¶F onrt lot en thr o&r*8 plrt, thr pobll@ arf i8 HarrerabloL. Lrmeght, Pago 7 raoa trwol lf8r hlo lura La mtoh lIr0rartam00 that intu% %o Qaklorta it t% the pbllo m for hlchray purpooao ut bo intarrob *Another pod8 of loquloltlse lo by pm- lorlptl~0 right raethg b tlrto, 0r 1~. ooatlnua6 umab Thus pub1io 01. ruf b a lvLP a a o o o ftha lr ~a p ta aor o aa Iodiaatlon, o r at %h a ewnar’8lntaat (0 bdlomta aad tka publla~r eaoeptt4no0,or 0r a parsiriptlvor&ht 0s PI)+ *. l . , "I 20. Prasoriptlo~, . l . mtr io b 0r ~58~ -8er 0mado tion lr th r ltatuta of 15.mftatlonr am praaorl !Sly thr period of publlo uaa kentr yaan was ragarda4ao tbr alalaum perid. Tha lengoat ltatuto~ Cm (teh year01 la 0.0~lo o a p toaa6tho al&m8 period. To aaka up tha ltetu%or# time) the term of uoe umberromaar owner8 may ba taokod on to tha tlaa of ~88 uD68r tha praoant owner.* Artfolo 78/+,Vamoa'a Isnotatad Tan, Panal Uo&, reabo a0 r0olxm08 RVboa+ar ohall rilful4 obatwt or injure or oauae to ba ob8truotoll or lnjurod la an7 man- ner whptroaver rnjrpub118 road or hi w otroat alley in ant teua or af- tr or oFmy publlobridgeoroauaam~ tit&la thlohat0 ohall ba ria8d not aunda two hundred qorian.* Wa qoota from 21 Taxa Jmlo~rrrdanoa, pagan 72) ana 7%. a0 t011aro: l m Obotruotlaa - ta mia8nm8 JmTla~ bran &.a 0r an artlfioial, phyaloal ObrtruMon to tmwl, it 18 imwtarial that the defaabc+fi%ta 8truo- tw an0r0a0heo upoa only prt of the read- +alr aml that tha romalalxrg part law80 mmpla lpaoa fo r tr etr 1 . narrowing of tha road to 1888 thaa 1t.l lmg3 wlQth la an obatruo- tlm, and any obatruotionthat laterran with the road in tha aan oi ~kin6 it'1880 ooaw r8ni8nt ror travai 18 an orram8, towatar, Roaorab~o 6, Lr 6auk&%t, Pa60 6 td UETU~~W or a& mbl.Sri lo ut the -10 Jmae0=00 with lo an obotrua%loa,althou& the dafaaibat ko not Lo tnvol tio%lonnoatrlnul whara %h; oE?d%!gw laoalote0 0r outtlng the ra#iIrrj putt lulva rl% oroB0 it, and leavingthe ma 9 ,', ooadltlon not ao gaba a8 baforar hlNla% ahI& a atrear trw 1 'b~lAtg8 approeah to the rod bou.nAary la Ukawloa a legal obatruotlont And 0r oouraa40-lnoloaun0r rt of the nor& br another doer not jaotlfytra daian6aat~o In- aloaur& 0r tho 28nutnlng ,part,* Fbs OUO Of 8OziOP T+ oitf Or hOtiQ, 253 8~.we 554, held a ourb whlo)r pro%rudad iate a rtrsot or allay uao gn obot,motlm. We quota tron the oourt~o oplnlon in thlo earn8 -.I a0 r0iiw01 i -2 'a . ~. VubXla hlghw 8 bOlOBgrrea8lao to mid8 ena ena to lnb to ‘I; t o publlo’ an& any pemwinant rtruatw or purprastw whluh aeta* lmlly lnoroaohar upon a public ltraat and lm- pedaa travel 1s K ntisauooper CO and my be fibfwa, nstulthetan&g opaoa Is iart tor the passage of the publlo. This la the only oaf8 rule for, ii one paraon aan peraaxwnt- If us* 8 &huay for hl.rown prlvak purpooeo, IO m all, end it it .waraleft to tha )urt to 4ateWns in aterg mea ~&owtar ouoh on lbotmotlon m&c&t lnamaoh tipeathe u%y rlthWt ba%ng a auloanoo,%han would be no oar%alatr In the 1~ and rhr% -8 at flro% 8 mttor aonr~uenca rarla ooou 0r a llaal.l booma a burden, aot only tol d~oinlm? oun- era, but to oil the taxpayan and the tntol- lng pub&l* a8 uoll.- Fhu8 ezpdloaof forbid8 ally 0-r muo* 8ut avw it It 4113 not tlm rule la rell founded la prlnolplo ror it. lo wall sattl,o&,@the pub118 a ml nt~tled,oat o nly to a in8 paaeaga along of p8rtlon 0r it not ln tha aotual two of coma other travel- er, * and if thle be true it aaooosaril~ So+ lwo tha% there can be 00 *rlghtfal pmn@a% MO of the may rn* prlvato purpooaoe, *,p l w .a .. _,.. 390 . ‘ xononblo t. Lr BmkalBht, p40 9 *MO toerUm or &ho muoaablmooo or ur narosablurau of 8 rmanmt obotruotiol 088 aver l rbo; but ri it lo 1. pardmat ob- ltruotlan 1% aSoul& be rbatrd. ?8blla x to Oauzbot ba Aaotroye8 or lmpalria by ~tha a Y i- i0.h a00i~0 0t th0 tiaitiihal rlro my laak to 8am00 hi0 mm 0ad0, ragarAl800 of fh0 alotatao or #katloa ana lqoity, l!ha a436%2t- naoo etia p r o vo mea fo a tming lno r o h o h m a n%o on 0 ltraot a00 orror 110Aoraaaa to aa aotlaa to remove obotraotlen, baoaurra ouoh ia- the protemnt warn knowingly lod rill.fully aAa with no baoia bnt tha Aesin to extend the posaasmory right of the altlrren to .ptbllo maortn W. l ..- The baa8 of iloonv, Cla* 2l4 8. W. 69, holao that in view or Art1018 812, Panal &m of 19U (aim Arti0lr 78b, Vernon*8 Annotated Teu8 Penal OoAo) guohlbltlag the obatruotlonor pub116 road8 tha Oommlaal~~ro~ Uourt would not be authoriced to laaoe any .portloaof the pub116 roadr or hlgtnrapafor 011 ana can well8 whloh would aaoeaoarll~ be obetruotlono thoreei. The oaaa of Xl Pa80 Uaotrio 0~ v, Laapor &2 S. W. (2Aa)863, JtolQathat uhlha tha~Commlsalanan~ Oourc la vested bl law with a wide dlaotatldn &n the uttei oi openlag and oloolng pub116 roabo it lunO%6ita an alaatrla soapany or uqoaa l laa tha rl&t %o lbotmmt a phllo rub by tho lroatloa and lriatanuaoo of l paLa wltbln %ha right- 0i-W 8r a p m1 0road* We ~o o to.rr0a %h alo ur %*o o p inio n 00 to ’Yl o ul >, 7!ha ua5ioputaA ltldanoa &LO& that %ha pole la gooa4loa nno mma Uota&aa tru tba *Age ei $ha’ tMtalaA or *toA *rQ 0r o nlit&r &do anA nom8 %wanty zgthitoh ‘“r ha oaterr of l ljhar of the pod.@, but we8 wlthla the right at my ot aaoh OS the hiabwya. If we umlarotand the uentan- tlm or appallmt, it lo to th elr t@ @ tthat bc oauaa than woo amplo room on both ll~ao of the pole. for the jtaaa4a of raidalar, and the louaflon of.th6 pole did not la)Ori@?a md%h or lapeArn t-10, the anmar of the. 1 It0 lpiolrl time0 r im4 lmlnot w-1 Y 08% mo ooatv t0 MA8ghin0tth0~04bt0r tb . ’ Eonorabla Z. L. kukn&ht, Faga 10 a ma 02 bigkay. lo thm oalb that the @am8 la trU8 OS mu objaot plaad oloaa to the roe-y rm8titut- lng a prsaant lrmw of dang5r. 'It lo said la Eoblaaon 1, Cltata(Tax. Or. Appp.) u 13. w. 509, In 0 prwaoutloa ror al. ltruotlng a laaond olaao Ugkwa;I, thAt, bb though every partloular part or the road nw not hare baa tnnlbd br the publlo, amh aad every part OS the mamawaa a mrt o? the Pub- lieethoroqhfars, and appellant had no right to ,lnirlnga upon it, though the tra~blbd part of tho road my not hat0 lain lntdlata4 Aloo aeo the followi~ oaaao 811maA obotruotlonor Shipparo~ Oomproaa t Wuehouaa vr mid- 009, 80 6. w. a032 Xribyt. Eioka, 61 S. W. (2A) t?l tour v. State, ~9 Pat. Cr. 76 &&a Fe Tuwnalta Oo. f* Bonall~ 207 6. ‘II. 969 xuaonblo IL,L. ?hlkK(Cht, -m ll “I m. Powor to Authorlte ObrtnrotloPi or Enoromhment. - Bubjaot to wnrtltit:oaU iimitatiot38 upon th0 imai0a or proptf right8 tbs l.yi~lstum may authorire obrtruo- tiOZt8 kt 8tF68t8 Or OehOr hi43h~8 Whbh WOtia OthW’U180 br nui8anoOr, 8nb say toapomarflt wlthdrar w hi&way irom tbe gmrml pUbll8 use 8~83dorote it rot the tlrm b.1~ to a p~wi0 PI0 Or 8 8pCOh). OhaFaOtUa A8 l -0, Ult ObrtTUotlon Or 8tXWOtUt8 WhfOh 18 W+hOr- l8ed by 8 8tatUte eMUted within th8 800~8 of The tern moattle guards ha8 born detinrd by the OOUrt8 EUUIY th.98 with rrlRtiOU t0 Taib’Oad CrOS8iDg8. Bere 18 0118 8Uah &OrwtiOnt **Oattlo oWrd8 ’ a8 U8rd in 8t8tUtO8 nqulbg rallroa48 lo ereot eattlo guard8 at oortaln ‘plaow along their lhr, m8aa rruohQI l p p r i8ik l8ldU 8r WV-t ad=&8 rm8geingupon therlahtor we* We ammo from rour lotter that the oattle gavdr oontemmplated dl.l lrreotlrr~ ob8tnhot th8 paautge 0r 00~8, hOT808 Md 8th8F lfro8tOOk. If this b8+FQ8 maoh oattlr g~+rdr reula prerrat tnrol qrbr 8uoh oattlo gU~ti8 bf hure- baok bdr80, lob wagon 8au other hor884miwn tmrfie, Zt rOti& d,80 jWoVWItth8 OWZiU8r 8attl8 ti 4riViog 8aW over th4 oattls gnard8. Wer8 oan be no Qubt but that howe-druW!i tra?fiO ha8 the 8- right to Uab the pU?&lO l’Olld8 a 8 lUtQlWb~88 02 other BOtOr-briT.8 twfl0 WUld It 18 u&80 tror that 8tiOhhor8O-bnm tmtf%O WOtid k?:it%tlwI to oooum aw prtlon or, the pub110 mad net OOqtlp$0a 8t th@ 8!US8 ti8IOby uIothCW UW Or tha SO&r The raot that horro-drawn tnrflb ah&t baw a way to betour ot 66 around the rattlr @mrtla r0u.M not prmvmt thr oattlo Xonorable hi. Bauknlght,Ply812 guard8 rLor be1 lbrtruotianrr b OtbiWWd8 tiatl'dfi8, whether it be mo“0ordrl~on OP &i88-brm, wed have the right to u80 all or w portion oi tpo x8d 01 right 0r ry not ocoapled at th8 8ame tl8e br 0-r Yehioler or oth8r twri8r ft 18 :therOiOr, OV O&bib<h a tl MttlO 6Urd 18 a Goad obrtl'uoti~n. Artlole 67~1, Tornon Annotated Totam Olvil 6tab uter, r-48 ar rOiiOW8S Vhhr omu8 0r ima aor whioh a thicd Ola88 or neighborhood mad mar br run, when the right of rr therefor h8 brprrarpulreU without .oost to the aounty, may lo o t gatr8 aaro88 raid road when aooor8m7 raid gak8 t0 bo not la88 thIUAtM feet Wib. 8d ir.0 @l ObStNOtiOll8 at tbo top,” It lr our o&nion that ArtlaIr 6712 V. A, a, s., rupra, does not author&e the lrootlon 0r oat410 guard8 by either the aounty or priratr indlYldual8. Thil artiole only authorizes the treotlon of the kind of gates dssorlbed in the statute on the r&88 ot read8 deofgnatod in khhr.rktute by amrtaln land owner8 a8 ret out in the rtatute. T&lo 8tat- ute would be 8trlotly eonehrued. See 25 Amerlonn furla- pr~donor, p. 569, ab8vo quote8. we call your attontlvn $0 Seotlon b of Art1010 @Ok, V. A. C, 8., upra, whlah authori%@ the ~&md88ionrr8~ luthorltr to preot oattlr gWlFd8, heuoe thr Pa-%8 Of the aot for the county OF @cbUtie8 OOdWJ+1&b the POPS- t-ionbraokets 86t Out in the Wt. P1S80 1st it b. Pnder- stood boaever that we express no opinion hare a8 to the 00-t 1 tutloaalftp or Sootion b of the aot a8 it 68 not ma- l88Eq iOT U4 hero to Pa88 a -* (. , . M8W8F $0 p3tZFrht QUO8fiWIit 18 OUFOpin- 0aml88ionur~ ¶kavlr Oowty (eer not oeot).or ham authorlt to eroot oattle glrarbrupon my of the pub110 FCKkdS Or TXW vi 8 00&y FOgUdlO88 8r%W84ia pSb&iO rOd8 uo ola88lflaar In 8nowu to tour rourth uartloa it 18 our opln- ion that oattlo guards ara obatruotPOM to Ul Bob110 roads es Trwl8 County ryardle8r 0r how uld pub110 road8 are rla88lfle4. &are M8WOFedYOUFriF8t and ttUiFthqU88tiOn8 ill thr mamar that wo havr it beooao8 aaneoee8aq to amwer your reoond, third and hfth qUa8tiOM. Ke WI& to oXpF888 our lppreolatlonror the abl8 brlef8 furnlahrd 08 by po 8~d the re8pprOtirO attornay8 representingtha ltMJdQ8r8 l!Ae~8tQd 18 the above Mtt8r. ro& trulr pur8 APPROVEDJUL 11, 1942 ATTORNEY GEbTERAL OF TEXAS